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217  MONTGOMLRY  STREET. 
SAIi''  TRANCISCO,  CAI.. 


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SWORD   AND   GOWN. 


BY 


THE  AUTHOE  OF  '^GUY  LIYINGSIONE.' 


BOSTON: 
TICKNOR    AXD     FIELDS 


y\  Dccc  r.x. 


author's  edition?. 


University  Press,  Cambridge : 
Electrotyped  and  Printed  by  Welch.  Bigeloir,  &  Co. 


'    '     >  ■>     ^        )    ■>        '    > 

>       3        1  J       5  J         '         ' 

»       I      '     5    '       "  '        '  )' 


SWORD   AXD   GOWK 


CHAPTER    I. 


"  f  I IHERE  is  something  in  this  climate,  after  all. 

I  I  suppose  there  are  not  many  places  where 
one  could  lie  on  the  shore  in  December,  and  enjoy 
the  air  as  much  as  I  have  done  for  the  last  two 
hours." 

Harry  Molyneux  turned  his  face  seaward  again 
as  he  spoke,  and  drank  in  the  soft  breeze  eagerly : 
he  could  scarcely  help  thanking  it  aloud,  as  it 
stole  freshly  over  his  frame,  and  played  gently 
with  his  hair,  and  left  a  delicate  caress  on  his 
cheek  —  the  cheek  that  was  now  always  so  pale, 
save  in  the  one  round  scarlet  spot  where,  months 
ago.  Consumption  had  hung  out  her  flag  of  "  No 
surrender." 

There  is  enough  in  the  scene  to  justify  an  aver- 
age amount  of  enthusiasm.  Those  steep  broken 
hills  in  the  background  form  the  frontier  fortress 
of  the  maritime  Alps,  the  last  outwork  of  which  is 

1  A 

Mi?1754 


il  SAVCRD    AND    GOWN. 

the  rocky  spur  on  Ayliich  Molyneux  and  his  com- 
panion are  lying.  Fir-woods  featlier  the  sky-line  ; 
and  from  among  these,  here  and  there,  the  tall 
stone  pines  stand  up  alone,  like  sentinels  —  steady, 
upright,  and  unwearied,  though  their  guard  has 
not  been  relieved  for  centuries.  All  around,  wild 
myrtle  and  heath  and  eglantine  curl  and  creep  up 
the  stems  of  the  olives,  trying,  from  the  contact 
of  their  fresh  youth,  to  infuse  new  life  and  sap  into 
the  gray  gnarled  old  trees,  even  as  a  fair  Jewish 
maiden  once  strove  to  cherish  her  war-worn  de- 
crepit king.  There  are  other  flowers  too  left, 
though  December  has  begun,  enough  to  give  a 
faint  fragrance  to  the  air  and  gay  colors  to  the 
ground.  Just  below  their  feet  is  a  narrow  strip  of 
dark-ribbed  sand,  and  then  the  tangle  of  weed, 
scarcely  stirred  by  the  water,  that  all  along  this 
coast  fringes  like  a  beard  the  languid  lip  of  the 
Mediterranean  Sea. 

Molyneux  appreciated  and  admired  all  this,  after 
his  simple  fashion,  and  said  so  :  his  companion  did 
not  answer  immediately ;  he  only  shrugged  his 
shoulders  and  lifted  his  eyebrows,  as  if  he  could 
have  disputed  the  pohit  if  it  had  not  been  too 
much  trouble.  An  optimist  in  nothing,  least  of 
all  was  Royston  Keene  grateful  or  indvilgent  to 
the  beauties  and  bounties  of  inanimate  creation. 

"  Ah  w^ell !  "  Harry  went  on  resignedly,  ''  I 
know  it 's  useless  trying  to  get  a  com]3liment  to 
Nature  out  of  you.     I  ought  to  have  given  you  up 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  3 

that  night  when  we  shoAved  you  the  Alps  from  the 
terrace  at  Berne.  You  had  never  seen  the  Jung- 
frau  before,  and  she  had  got  her  prettiest  pink 
evening  dress  on,  poor  thing !  and  all  you  would 
say  was,  '  There  's  not  much  the  matter  with  the 
view.'  " 

"  It  was  a  concession  to  your  wife's  enthusiasm," 
Keene  replied  ;  "  a  sudden  check  might  have  been 
dangerous  just  then,  or  I  should  have  spoken  more  i 
bitterly,  after  being  brought  out  to  look  at  moun-   1 
tains,  when  I  was  dusty  and  travel-stained,  want-  [ 
ing  baths  and  dinners  and  other  necessaries  of  life." 

The  voice  was  deep-toned  and  melodious  enough 
that  spoke  these  words,  but  too  slow  and  deliberate 
to  be  quite  a  pleasant  one,  though  there  was  noth- 
hig  like  a  drawl  in  it.  One  could  easily  fancy 
such  a  voice  ironical  or  sarcastic,  but  hardly  raised 
much  in  anger ;  in  the  imperative  mood  it  might 
be  very  successful,  but  it  seemed  as  if  it  could 
never  have  pleaded  or  prayed.  It  matched  the 
speaker's  exterior  singularly  well.  Had  you  seen 
him  for  the  first  time  —  couchant,  as  he  was  then 
—  you  would  have  had  only  an  impression  of 
great  length  and  laziness  ;  but  as  you  gazed  on, 
the  vast  deep  chest  expanded  under  your  eye  ;  the 
knotted  muscles,  without  an  ounce  of  superfluous 
flesh  to  dull  their  outline,  developed  themselves 
one  by  one  ;  so  that  gradually  you  began  to  realize 
the  extent  of  his  surpassing  bodily  powers,  and 
wondered  that  you  could  have  been  deceived  even 


4  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

for  a  moment.  The  face  guarded  its  secret  far 
more  successfully.  The  features  were  bold  and 
sharply  cut,  bronzed  up  to  the  roots  of  the  crisp 
light-brown  beard  and  hair,  except  where  the 
upper  brow  retained  its  original  fairness  —  pre- 
senting a  startling  contrast,  like  a  wreath  of  snow 
lying  late  in  spring-time  high  up  on  the  side  of  a 
black  Fell.  You  would  hardly  say  that  they  were 
devoid  of  expression,  any  more  than  that  a  perfectly 
drilled  soldier  is  incapable  of  activity  ;  but  you  got 
puzzled  in  making  out  what  their  natural  expres- 
sion was :  it  was  not  sternness,  far  less  ferocity  — 
the  face  was  much  too  impassible  for  either ;  and 
yet  its  listlessness  could  never  be  mistaken  for 
languor.  The  thin  short  lips  might  be  very  pitiless 
when  compressed,  very  contemptuous  and  provoca- 
tive when  curling ;  but  the  enormous  moustache, 
sweeping  over  them  like  a  wave,  and  ending  in  a 
clean  stiff  upward  curve,  made  even  this  a  matter 
of  mere  conjecture.  The  cold,  steady,  dark  eyes 
seldom  flashed  or  glittered  ;  but,  when  their  pupils 
contracted,  there  came  into  them  a  sort  of  sullen, 
suppressed,  inward  light,  like  that  of  jet  or  cannel 
coal.  One  curious  thing  about  them  was,  that 
they  never  seemed  to  care  about  following  you, 
and  yet  you  felt  you  could  not  escape  from  them. 
The  first  hand-gripe,  however,  settled  the  question 
with  most  people  :  few,  after  experiencing  the  in- 
voluntary pressure,  when  he  did  not  in  the  least 
mean  to  be  cordial,  doubted  that  there  were  pas- 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  5 

sions  ill  Royston  Keene  —  difficult  perhaps  to 
rouse,  but  yet  more  difficult  to  appease  or  subdue. 

His  profession  was  evident.  Indeed,  it  must  be 
confessed  that  the  Dragoon  is  not  easily  dissembled. 
I  know  a  very  meritorious  parish-priest,  of  fair  re- 
pute, too,  as  a  preacher,  who  has  striven  for  years, 
hard  but  unavailingly,  to  divest  himself  of  the  mar- 
tial air  he  brought  with  him  out  of  the  K.  D.  G. 
He  strides  down  the  village  street  with  a  certain 
swagger  and  roll,  as  if  the  steel  scabbard  were  still 
trailing  at  his  heel,  acknowledging  rustic  bows  with 
a  slight  quick  motion  of  the  finger,  like  troopers'  sa- 
lutes ;  on  the  smooth-shaven  face  is  shadowed  forth 
the  outline  of  a  beard,  nurtured  and  trimmed  in  old 
days  with  more  than  horticultural  science  ;  in  the 
pulpit  and  reading-desk  gown  and  surplice  hang 
uneasily,  like  a  disguise,  on  the  erect  soldierly  fig- 
ure, and  the  effect  of  Ms  ministrations  is  thereby 
sadly  marred  ;  for  apposite  text,  earnest  exhorta- 
tion, and  grave  rebuke  flow  with  a  curious  incon- 
sistency from  the  lips  of  that  well-meaning  but  un- 
mitigated Plunger. 

Royston  Keene  was  no  exception  to  tliis  rule, 
though  he  did  not  like  to  be  told  so,  and  rather 
ignored  the  profession  than  otherwise.  Perhaps  he 
had  begun  it  early  enough  to  have  got  tired  of  it ; 
for  he  had  now  been  for  some  little  time  on  half- 
pay,  and  a  brevet-major,  after  doing  good  service 
in  the   Indian  wars,  and  was  not  yet  thirty-four. 

Molyneux  had  served  in  the  same  light  cavalry 
1* 


6  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

regiment  as  his  subaltern,  and  there  the  founda- 
tion was  laid  of  their  close  alliance.  It  was  not  a 
very  fair  or  well-balanced  one,  being  made  up  of 
implicit  obedience,  reliance,  and  reverence  on  the 
one  side,  and  a  sort  of  protecting  condescension  on 
the  other  —  much  like  the  old  Roman  relation  be- 
tween Client  and  Patron  ;  nevertheless  it  had  out- 
lasted many  more  sympathetic  and  better-looking 
friendships. 

They  used  to  say  of  "  The  Cool  Captain  "  (so  he 
was  always  called  off  parade),  that  "  he  could  bring 
a  boy  to  his  bearings  sooner  than  any  man  in  the 
army."  Yet  he  Avas  a  favorite  with  them  all. 
There  was  a  regular  ovation  among  those  "  God- 
less horsemen  "  whenever  he  came  into  the  Club, 
or  into  their  mess-rooms  ;  they  hung  upon  his  sim- 
plest words  with  a  touchingiy  devout  attention,  and 
thought  it  was  their  own  stupidity  when  they  could 
see  nothing  in  them  to  laugh  at  or  admire ;  they 
wrote  off  all  that  they  could  remember  of  his  sar- 
casms and  repartees,  —  generally  strangely  traves- 
tied and  spoilt  by  carriage, — to  unlucky  comrades, 
martyrized  on  far-off  detachments,  or  vegetating 
with  friends  in  the  country ;  the  more  ambitious, 
after  much  private  practice,  strove  to  imitate  his 
way  of  twisting  his  moustache  as  he  stood  before 
the  fire,  though  with  some,  to  whom  nature  had 
been  niggard  of  hirsute  honors,  it  was  grasping  a 
shadow  and  fighting  with  the  air. 

Certainly,  Molyneux  never  was  so  happy  as  in 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  7 

that  society.  Fond  as  he  was  of  his  pretty  wife, 
her  influence  was  as  nothing  in  the  scale.  She 
complained  of  this,  half  in  earnest,  soon  after  they 
were  married.  The  fever  of  post-nuptial  felicity 
was  strong  upon  Harry  just  then,  but  he  did  not 
attempt  to  deny  the  imputation.  He  only  said, 
"  My  pet,  I  have  known  him  so  much  the  longest ! " 
I  wonder,  now,  how  many  brides  would  have  ad- 
mitted that  somewhat  unsatisfactory  and  illogical 
excuse  ?  Fanny  Molyneux  did  :  she  was  the  best- 
natured  little  woman  alive,  and  wise,  too,  in  her 
generation,  for  she  never  brought  matters  to  a 
crisis,  or  measured  her  strength  against  the  "  heavy- 
weight." 

Indeed,  they  got  on  together  extremely  well. 
Whenever  Keene  happened  to  be  with  them — which 
was  not  often  —  she  gave  up  the  management  of 
Harry's  foreign  affairs  to  him,  reserving  to  herself 
the  control  of  the  home  department ;  and,  between 
the  two,  they  ruled  their  vassal  right  royally.  After 
some  months'  acquaintance,  they  became  the  great- 
est friends.  On  Royston's  side,  it  was  one  of  the 
few  quite  pure  and  unselfish  feelings  he  had  ever 
cherished  towards  one  of  her  sex,  not  nearly  akin 
to  him  in  blood.  He  always  seemed  to  look  on 
her  as  a  very  nice,  but  rather  spoilt  child,  to  be 
humored  and  petted  to  any  amount,  but  very  sel- 
dom to  be  reasoned  with,  or  gravely  consulted. 
Considering  lier  numerous  fascinations,  and  the 
little  practice  lie  had  had  in  the  paternal  or  frater- 


8  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

nal  line,  he  really  did  it  remarkably  well:  be  it 
understood,  it  was  only  en  petite  comite,  that  all 
this  went  on ;  in  general  society,  his  manner  was 
strictly  formal  and  deferential.  It  provoked  her, 
thougli,  sometimes,  and  one  day  she  ventured  to 
say,  "  I  wish  you  would  learn  to  treat  me  like 
a  grown-up  woman ! "  Royston's  eyes  darkened 
strangely ;  and  one  glance  flashed  out  of  the  gloom 
that  made  her  shrink  away  from  him  then,  and 
blush  painfully  when  she  thought  of  it  afterwards, 
alone.  He  was  frowning,  too,  as  he  answered,  in 
a  voice  unusually  harsh  and  constrained,  "  It 
seems  to  me  we  go  on  very  well  as  it  is.  But 
women  never  ivill  leave  well  alone."  She  did  not 
like  to  analyze  his  answer  or  her  own  feelings  too 
closely  ;  so  she  tried  to  persuade  herself  it  was  a 
very  rude  speech,  and  that  she  ought  to  be  offended 
at  it.  There  was  a  coolness  between  those  two  for 
some  days,  amounting  to  distant  courtesy.  But 
the  dignified  style  did  not  suit  ma  mignonne  (as 
Harry  delighted  to  call  her)  at  all,  and  was,  in- 
deed, a  lamentable  failure  ;  it  made  her  look  as  if 
she  had  been  trying  on  one  of  her  great-grand- 
mother's short-waisted  dresses.  So  they  soon  fell 
back  into  their  old  ways,  and,  like  the  model  prince 
and  princess,  "lived  very  happily  ever  afterwards." 


CHAPTER    II. 

KEEXE  had  spent  some  time  with  the  Moly- 
neuxs  during  the  autumn  and  winter,  and 
had  conducted  himself  so  far  with  perfect  propri- 
ety, certainly  keeping  Harry  straighter  than  he 
would  have  gone  alone  ;  for  he  was,  unluckily,  of 
a  convivial  turn  of  mind  wholly  incompatible  with 
delicate  health  and  a  frail  constitution.  Being  a 
favorite  with  the  world  in  general,  he  felt  bound, 
I  suppose,  to  reciprocate.  So,  albeit  strictly  en- 
joined to  keep  the  earliest  hours,  he  would  sit  up 
till  dawn  if  any  one  encouraged  him,  and  then 
come  home,  perfectly  sober,  perhaps,  but  stagger- 
ing from  mere  weakness.  He  did  not  care  for 
deep  drinking  in  the  least,  but  the  number  of 
magnums  he  had  assisted  in  flooring,  when  on  a 
regimen  of  "  three  glasses  of  sherry,"  would  have 
made  a  double  row  of  nails  round  the  coffin  of  a 
larger  man.  Nature,  however,  being  a  Dame,  won't 
stand  being  slighted,  or  having  her  admonitions 
disregarded,  and  the  way  she  asserted  herself 
on  the  morrow  was  retributive  in  the  extreme. 
Harry  was  always  so  very  ill  after  one  of  those 
nights  "  upon  the  war-path  "  !     On  such  occasions, 


10  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

his  feelings,  without  being  quite  remorseful,  were 
beautifully  and  curiously  penitent ;  they  manifest- 
ed themselves  chiefly  by  an  extraordinary  ebulli- 
tion of  the  domestic  affections.  "  Bring  me  my 
children,"  (he  had  two  tiny  ones,)  he  would  cry, 
on  waking,  just  as  another  man  would  call  for 
brandy  and  soda  ;  and  strange  to  say,  the  presence 
of  those  innocents  seemed  to  have  a  similarly  in- 
vigorating and  refreshing  effect :  during  all  that 
day  he  would  make  pilgrimages  to  their  cribs,  and 
gaze  upon  them  sleeping,  with  the  reverence  of  an 
old  devote  kneeling  before  the  shrine  of  her  most 
efficacious  saint.  Then  he  would  go  forth,  and 
return  with  a  present  for  his  wife,  bearing  an  ex- 
act proportion  in  value  to  the  extent  and  duration 
of  the  past  misdemeanor;  so  that  her  jewel-case 
and  writing-table  soon  became  as  prettily  sugges- 
tive as  the  votive  chapel  of  Notre  Dame  des  Dunes. 
Very  unnecessary  were  these  peace-offerings  ;  for 
that  dear  little  woman  never  dreamt  of  "  hitting 
him  when  he  was  down,"  or  taking  any  other  low 
advantage  of  his  weakness.  She  would  make  his 
breakfast  beamingly,  at  all  untimely  hours,  and 
otherwise  pet  and  caress  him,  so  that  he  might 
have  been  a  knight  returning  wounded  from  some 
holy  war,  instead  of  a  discomfited  scalp-hunter, 
bearing  still  evident  traces  of  the  ''  war-paint."  A 
stern  old  lady  told  her  once,  that  such  condonation 
of  offences  was  unprincipled  and  immoral.  It  may 
be  so,  but  I  cannot  think  the  example  is  likely  to 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  11 

be  dangerously  contagious.  Whatever  happens, 
there  will  always  remain  a  sufficiency  of  matronly 
Dic£earchs,  over  whose  judgment-scats  the  legend 
is  very  plainly  inscribed,  Nescia  flecti. 

These  Ember  days  formed  the  only  exceptions 
to  the  remarkably  easy  way  in  which  Molyneux 
took  everything :  there  seemed  to  be  no  rough 
places  about  his  disposition  for  trouble  or  care  to 
take  hold  of.  Hunting  four  days  a  week  through 
tlie  winter  —  six  weeks  in  town  during  the  season, 
with  incidentals  of  Epsom,  Goodwood,  saumon  a 
la  Trafalgar^  bouquets,  and  opera-stalls — living 
all  the  rest  of  the  year  at  a  mess  curious  as  to  the 
quality  of  its  dry  champagne  —  these  simple  pleas- 
ures involve  a  certain  expenditure  hardly  ''  fairly 
warranted  by  our  regimental  rate  of  pay."  To  ac- 
complish all  this  on  about  £  500  a  year,  and  yet 
to  steer  clear  of  ruin,  is  an  ingenious  process 
doubtless,  but  a  sum  not  to  be  wrought  out  (most 
soldiers  will  tell  you)  without  some  anxiety  and 
travail  of  mind.  Now,  in  the  very  tightest  state 
of  the  money-market,  Harry  was  never  known  to. 
disquiet  himself  in  vain.  He  would  not  borrow 
from  any  of  his  comrades,  refusing  all  such  prof- 
fers of  assistance  gratefully  but  consistently.  No 
^lussulman  ever  equalled  his  contented  reliance  on 
the  resources  of  Futurity,  and  his  implicit  belief  in 
the  same.  He  would  anchor  his  hopes  on  some 
such  improbal)ility  as  "  a  long  shot  coming  off,"  or 
''  his  Aunt  Agnes  comhig  down  "  (a  proverbially 


12  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

awful  widow,  who  had  forgiven  him  seven  times 
abeady ;  and  after  each  fresh  offence  had  sworn 
unrelenting  enmity  to  him  and  his  heirs  forever). 
Strong  in  this  faith,  he  met  condoling  friends  with 
a  pleasant,  reassuring  smile  :  with  the  same  de- 
meanor he  confronted  threatening  creditors.  He 
used  no  arts,  and  condescended  to  no  subterfuge 
in  dealing  with  these  last ;  but,  as  one  of  them  ob- 
served, retreating  from  the  barracks  moneyless  but 
gratified,  "  Mr.  Molyneux  seems  to  feel  for  one,  at 
all  events."  So  he  did.  He  sympathized  with  his 
tailor,  not  in  the  least  because  he  owed  him  money, 
but  because  he  was  a  fellow-creature  in  difficulties, 
regretting  heartily  it  was  not  in  his  own  power  to 
relieve  them  ;  just  as  a  very  charitable  but  improv- 
ident person  might  feel  on  reading  a  case  of  real 
distress  in  the  Times.  Stranger  to  say,  hitherto  he 
had  always  pulled  through.  Either  the  outsider 
did  win,  or  the  aunt,  touched  in  the  soft  place  of 
her  heart  through  her  ruffled  feathers,  was  brought 
down  by  a  ^'  wild  shot,"  when  considered  quite  out 
of  distance,  and  "  parted  "  freely. 

The  last  and  hardest  trial  of  all  —  long  debility 
and  frequent  ilhiess  —  had  failed  to  shake  this 
intense  serenity.  He  was  never  cross  or  imreason- 
able,  and  tried  to  give  as  little  trouble  as  possible  ; 
but  was  grateful  to  a  degree  for  everything  that 
was  done  for  him  :  he  could  even  manage  to  thank 
people  for  their  advice,  whether  he  took  it  or  not. 
So  far  as  one  could  make  out,  he  was  nearly  as 


SWORD     AND     GOWN.  13 

much  interested  in  the  state  of  his  own  health,  as 
one  would  be  about  that  of  ally  pleasant  casual 
acquaintance. 

It  must  be  confessed,  that  poor  Harry  and  his 
like  are  by  no  means  strong-minded,  or  large- 
brained,  or  persevering  men  ;  they  seldom  or  never 
rise  to  eminence,  and  rarely  have  greatness  thrust 
upon  them.  They  do  not  often  volunteer  to  lead 
the  vanguard  of  any  great  movement,  shouting  out 
on  the  slightest  provocation  the  war-cry  of  "  life  is 
earnest ;  "  for  they  are  the  natural  subalterns  of  the 
world's  mighty  battalia,  and  could  hardly  manoeu- 
vre one  of  its  companies,  without  hopelessly  en- 
tangling it,  and  exposing  themselves  :  indeed,  if 
they  are  useful  at  all  in  their  generation,  it  is  in  a 
singularly  modest  and  unobtrusive  way.  Yet  there 
is  an  attraction  about  them,  a  power  of  attachment, 
that  the  great  and  wise  ones  of  the  earth  have  ap- 
preciated and  envied,  ere  now.  It  is  curious,  too, 
to  see  what  an  apparent  contradiction  to  them- 
selves the  extremes  of  the  class  —  those  who  exag- 
gerate nonchalance  into  insensibility,  and  softness 
into  effeminacy  —  have  shown,  when  brought  face 
to  face  with  imminent  peril  or  certain  destruction. 
France  held  few  more  terrible  ferrailleurs  than  the 
curled  painted  minions  of  her  third  Henry :  the 
sun  never  looked  down  on  a  more  desperate  duel 
than  that  in  which  Quelus,  Schomberg,  and  Mau- 
giron  did  their  devoir  manfully  to  the  last.  Xay, 
though  he  came  delicately  to  his  doom,  the  King 

2 


14  SWORD    AND     GOWN. 

of  Amalek  met  it,  I  fancy,  gallantly  and  gracefully 
enough,  when  once  he  read  his  sentence  in  the 
eyes  of  the  pitiless  Seer,  who  ordained  that  he 
''  should  be  hewn  in  j)ieces  before  the  Lord  in 
Gilgal." 

R.   I.   P. 

There  was  silence  for  some  minutes  after  the 
few  words  that  opened  this  story ;  and  then  Roy- 
ston  Keene  spoke  again. 

"  Hal,  do  you  remember  that  miserable  impostor 
in  Paris  being  enthusiastic  about  Dorade  and  its 
advantages,  describing  it  as  a  sort  of  happy  hunt- 
ing-ground, and  so  deciding  us  on  choosing  it  in 
preference  to  Nice  ?  " 

"  Ah,  he  did  drivel  a  good  deal.  I  think  he  had 
been  drinking,"  the  other  answered. 

"  No ;  I  understand  him  now.  He  had  been 
bored  here  into  a  sidlen,  vicious  misanthropy ;  and 
Jie  wanted  to  take  it  out  of  the  human  race  by 
getting  others  in  the  same  mess.  It 's  just  like 
that  jealous  old  Heathfield,  who,  when  he  is  up 
to  his  girths  in  a  squire-trap,  never  holloas  '  'w^are 
bog,'  till  five  or  six  more  are  in  it.  I  can  fancy 
the  hoary-headed  villain  gloating  hideously  over 
us  just  now.  I  wish  I  had  him  here.  I  could  be 
so  unkind  to  him !  He  talked  about  the  shooting 
and  the  society.  Bah !  there  's  about  one  cock  to 
every  thousand  acres  of  forest ;  and  as  for  women 
fair  to  look  upon,  I  've  not  flushed  one  since  we 
came.      I  don't  think  I  can  stand  it  much  longer." 


SWORD     AND     GOWN.  15 

"  I  'm  very  sorry,"  Harry  said ;  "  I  kiiew  you 
were  being  bored  to  death,  and  it 's  all  on  my 
account ;  but  I  did  n't  like  to  ask  you  about  it. 
I  'm  so  horribly  selfish  !  "  The  shadow  of  an  im- 
minent penitence  began  to  steal  over  him,  when 
Royston  broke  in  — 

'^  Don't  be  childish.  I  liked  to  stay  —  never 
mind  why  —  or  I  should  not  have  done  so.  Only 
now  —  you  arc  o'cttino-  better,  and  I  realize  the 
situation  more.  I  hardly  know  where  to  go.  Xot 
back  to  England,  certainly,  yet.  Besides  the  nui- 
sance and  chance  work  of  picking  up  a  stud  in 
the  middle  of  the  season,  it  is  n't  pleasant  to  be 
consoled  for  a  blank  day  by,  '  You  should  have 
been  here  last  month.  Xever  was  such  scent ; 
and  heaps  of  straight-running  foxes ! '  And  then 
they  indulge  themselves  in  an  imag'inative  '  crack- 
er,' knowing  you  can't  contradict  them.  Shall  I 
go  to  Albania  ?  I  should  like  to  kill  something 
before  I  turn  homewards." 

Harry  seemed  musing.  Suddenly  he  half  start- 
ed up,  clapping  his  hands.  ''  I  knew  I  had  for- 
gotten ! " 

"  Not  such  a  singular  circumstance  as  to  war- 
rant all  that  indecent  exultation,"  was  the  reply. 
''  Well,  out  with  it." 

"  I  never  told  you  that  Fan  had  a  letter  this 
morning  from  Cecil  Tresilyan  (they  're  immense 
friends,  you  know)  to  ask  her  to  engage  rooms 
for  them.  They  are  in  Paris  now,  and  will  be 
here  in  three  days." 


16  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

Keene  raised  himself  on  his  arm,  regarding  his 
comrade  with  a  sort  of  admiration.  ''  You  're  a 
natural  curiosity,  mon  cher.  None  of  us  ever 
quite  appreciated  you.  I  don't  believe  there  's 
another  man  in  existence,  situated  as  we  are,  who 
would  have  kept  that  intelligence  at  the  back  of 
his  head  so  long.  The  Tresilyan,  of  course  ?  I 
remember  hearing  about  her  in  India.  Annesley 
came  back  from  sick  leave,  perfectly  insane  on 
the  subject.  She  must  be  something  extraordi- 
nary, for  the  recollection  of  her  made  even  him 
poetical  —  when  he  was  sober.  I  asked  about 
her  when  I  got  to  England,  but  her  mother  was 
taken  very  ill,  or  did  something  equally  unjustifi- 
able, so  she  left  town  before  I  saw  her." 

"  The  mother  really  teas  ill,"  Molyneux  said, 
apologetically ;  "  at  least  she  died  soon  after  that. 
Miss  Tresilyan  has  never  shown  much  since.  But 
you  've  no  idea  of  the  sensation  she  made  during 
her  season  and  a  half.  They  called  her  The  Re- 
fuser, she  had  such  a  fabulous  number  of  offers, 
and  would  n't  look  at  any  of  them.  By  the  by, 
there 's  rather  a  good  story  about  that.  You 
know  Margate  ?  He  's  going  to  the  bad  very  fast 
now,  but  he  was  the  crack  puppy  of  that  year's 
entry ;  good-looking,  long  minority,  careful  guard- 
ians, leases  falling  in,  mother  one  of  the  best 
Christians  in  England,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing. 
Well,  Tom  Gary  took  him  in  hand,  and  brought 
him  out  in  great  form  before  long.      They  were 


SWORD   AND   GOWN.  17 

talking  over  their  preparations  for  the  moors,  for 
they  were  going  to  start  the  next  day.  '  I  believe 
that 's  all,'  Margate  asked,  '  or  have  we  forgotten 
anything  ? '  '  "Wait  a  minute,'  said  Tom,  and  re- 
flected (provident  man,  Tom ;  fond  of  his  com- 
forts, and  proud  of  it)  —  'Ah,  I  thought  there  was 
something.  You  have  n't  proposed  to  The  Tresil- 
yan.'  They  say  Margate's  face  was  a  study.  He 
never  disputed  the  orders  of  his  private  trainer, 
so  he  only  said,  piteously,  '  But  I  don't  want  to 
marry  any  one,'  and  looked  as  if  he  was  going  to 
cry.  '  You  are  "  ower  young,"  '  Gary  said,  en- 
couragingly, '  and  it 's  about  the  last  thing  I 
should  press  upon  you.  It  would  n't  suit  my 
book  at  all.  But  I  don't  see  how  that  affects  the 
question.  I  can  lay  ten  ponies  to  one  she  won't 
have  you.  It 's  the  thing  to  do,  depend  upon  it. 
All  the  other  good  men  have  had  a  turn,  and  you 
have  no  right  to  be  singular  ;  it 's  bad  taste.  Bank 
has  its  duties,  my  lord.  Noblesse  oblige,  and  so 
forth.  You  understand?'  Margate  didnU  in 
the  least,  but  he  went  and  proposed  quite  prop- 
erly, and  was  rejected  rather  more  decidedly  than 
his  fellows.  Then  he  went  down  into  Perthshire, 
and  missed  his  grouse  and  lost  his  salmon,  with 
a  comfortable  consciousness  of  having  discharged 
his  obligations  to  society." 

Royston  Keene  actually  groaned,  "  Why  did  n't 
she  come   sooner  ? "  he  said.     "  What  a  luxury, 
in  this   God-forgotten  place,  to  talk  to  a  clever 
2*  a 


18  SWORD   AND   GOWN. 

handsome  woman,  who  tramples  on  strawberry- 
leaves  ! " 

"  Perhaps  she  would  have  come  if  she  had 
known  how  much  we  wanted  her,"  replied  Harry. 
"  They  say  she  is  a  model  of  charity,  and  several 
other  virtues  too.  Slie  is  coming  here  for  the 
health  of  some  companion,  or  governess,  who  lives 
with  her.  Yet  she  flirts  outrageously  at  times,  in 
her  own  imperial  way.  Better  late  than  never. 
I  'm  certain  you  '11  like  her,  and  perhaps  she  '11 
like  you." 

"  Qui  vwra  verra^^  Keene  said,  rising  slowly. 
"  Let  us  go  home  now.  Draw  your  plaid  closer 
round  you,  it 's  getting  chilly." 


CHAPTER    III. 

THERE  is  a  terrace  in  Dorade,  fenced  in  from 
every  wind  that  blows  except  the  south,  and 
even  that  has  to  creep  cautiously  and  cunningly 
round  a  sharp  corner  to  make  its  entrance  good. 
Four  small  stunted  palms  grow  there ;  they  look 
painfully  out  of  place,  and  conscious  of  it;  for 
they  are  always  bowing  their  heads  in  a  meek 
humiliation,  and  shiver  in  a  strange  unhealthy 
Avay  at  the  slightest  breeze,  just  as  you  may  see 
Asiatics  doing  in  our  "  land  of  mist  and  snow." 
But  the  natives  regard  those  unhappy  exotics  with 
a  fanatical  pride,  pointing  them  out  to  all  comers 
as  living  witnesses  to  the  perfection  of  the  climate  ; 
they  would  gladly  stone  any  irreverent  stranger 
who  should  suggest  a  comparison  between  their 
sacred  shrubs  and  the  giants  of  Indian  seas.  The 
only  inhabitant  of  the  place  who  ever  attained  any 
eminence  anywhere  (he  really  was  a  good  tailor) 
bequeathed  a  certain  sum  for  Hie  beautifying  of 
the  renowned  allee^  instead  of  endowing  charitable 
institutions,  and  his  townsmen  indorsed  the  act 
by  erecting  a  little  mural  tablet  to  commemorate 
his  public  spirit. 


20  SWORD   AND   GOWN. 

The  view  is  rather  pretty,  stretching  over  vine- 
yards, and  gardens,  and  oUve-grounds  down  to  the 
shore,  with  the  islands  in  the  far  foreground  rear- 
ing themselves  against  the  sky,  clear  and  blue,  or 
if  the  weather  is  misty  to  seaward,  sleeping  in  an 
aureole  of  golden  haze,  so  that  the  whole  effect 
would  be  cheerful  if  it  were  not  for  the  melan- 
choly invalids  who  haunt  the  spot  perpetually. 
Faces  and  figures  are  to  be  seen  sometimes  that 
would  send  an  uncomfortable  shiver  of  revulsion 
through  you  if  you  met  them  on  the  Boulevard 
des  Italiens,  strengthened  by  your  anteprandian 
absinthe.  Here,  the  place  belonged  to  tliem  so 
completely,  that  a  man  in  rude  health  felt  like  an 
unwarrantable  intruder,  in  which  light  I  am  sure 
the  hypochondriacs  always  regarded  him.  As 
such  a  one  passed,  you  might  see  a  glare,  half- 
envious,  half-resentful,  light  up  some  hollow  eyes, 
and  thin  parched  lips  worked  nervously,  as  though 
they  were  uttering  a  very  equivocal  blessing. 

Does  the  character  gain  much  by  the  extermi- 
nation of  more  impulsive  passions,  when  their 
place  is  possessed  by  the  two  devils  that  neither 
age  nor  sickness  can  exorcise  —  Avarice  and  En- 
vy ?  It  is  with  this  last,  perhaps,  that  we  have 
most  to  do  ;  and  the  shadow  of  it,  hoAvever  indis- 
tinct and  distant,  makes  the  landscape  near  the 
horizon  look  somewhat  dreary.  The  nature  of 
many  of  us  is  so  faulty  and  ill-regulated,  that  it 
may  be  doubted  if  even  advancing  years  will  make 


SWORD     AND    GOAVN.  21 

US  much  better  or  wiser ;  but,  when  winter  shall 
have  closed  in,  and  our  hot  blood  is  more  than 
cool,  is  there  no  chance  of  an  "  open  season  "  ? 
Must  it  come  to  this  —  that  the  mere  sight  of  the 
youth  and  strength  and  beauty  that  have  left  us 
far  behind,  shall  stir  our  bile,  as  though  it  were 
an  insolent  parade  —  that  the  choicest  delicacies 
at  our  neighbor's  wedding  breakfast  shall  not 
pique  our  palate  like  the  baked  meats  at  his  fu- 
neral ?  Not  so  ;  if  we  must  give  ground  let  us 
retreat  in  good  order,  leaving  no  shield  behind  us 
that  our  enemy  may  build  into  his  trophy.  If  we 
are  rash  enough  to  assail  Lady  Violet  Yavasour 
with  petitions  for  a  waltz,  and  see  her  look  doubt- 
fully down  her  scribbled  tablets,  till  the  "  sweetest 
lips  that  ever  were  kissed  "  can  find  no  gentler 
answer  than  the  terrible  "  Engaged,"  let  us  not 
gnash  suicidally  our  few  remaining  teeth,  even 
though  Brabazon  Leslie  —  all  the  handsomer  for 
the  scar  on  his  smooth  forehead  —  should  come  up 
upon  our  traces,  and  ride  rough-shod  over  those 
hieroglyphics,  as  he  did  at  Balaclava  through  Rus- 
sian squadrons.  Bather  let  us  try  to  sympathize 
with  his  triumph,  while  he  carries  off  his  beautiful 
prize  from  under  the  enemy's  guns,  as  Dundonald 
may  have  cut  out  a  frigate  beneath  the  batteries 
of  Vera  Cruz.  Non  omnia  corripit  ccimm.  Hath 
the  savor  departed  wholly  from  the  Gascon  wine, 
bjeauso  the  name  of  no  living  love  crowns  the 
draught  ?     Shall  we  stay  sullenly  at  home  when 


22  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

all  the  world  is  flocking  to  the  tournament,  be- 
cause our  limbs  have  stiffened  so  that  we  may 
no  longer  sit  saddle-fast,  and  hold  our  own  in  the 
melee  ?  A  corner  in  the  cushioned  gallery  is  left 
to  us  still.  Come,  comrade  of  mine  — nate  mecum 
Consule  Manlio  —  we  will  go  up  and  lounge  there 
among  the  Chatelaines :  some  may  be  found  good- 
natured  enough  to  listen  (in  the  pauses  of  the 
tilting),  while  we  tell  how,  not  so  many  years 
back,  plume  and  pennon  went  down  before  our 
lance. 

I  place  no  great  reliance  on  the  Pleasures  of 
Memory.  But,  if  pearls  and  bright  shells  be  rarely 
found  there,  surely  waifs,  better  than  echini  and 
sting-rays,  are  to  be  gathered  on  the  "  shores  of 
long  ago."  Ah,  cynic  !  you  are  strong  enough  to 
be  merciful — just  this  once.  Spare  us  the  string 
of  examples  that  would  overwhelm  us  utterly. 
Does  it  not  suffice  that  we  confess  the  truth  of 
that  saddest  adage,  tolled  in  our  ears  by  every 
passing  bell  — 

Those  Avliom  the  gods  love  well  die  3'oung  ? 

Royston  and  his  companion  were  crossing  the 
terrace  on  their  way  home,  when  the  former 
stopped  suddenly  — 

"  Go  on,  Hal,"  he  said ;  "it  is  too  late  for  you 
to  be  standing  about,  but  I  must  speak  to  that 
poor  Chateaumesnil.  I  shall  see  you  at  dinner." 
He  went  up  to  a  wheeled  chair  that  was  being- 
drawn  by  at  the  time. 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  23 

Its  occupant  was  a  man  of  large  frame,  as  far  as 
could  be  made  out  through  the  thick  wrappings 
of  furs  ;  his  head  was  bent  forward  and  low,  rest- 
ing on  his  hands,  that  were  crossed  on  a  crutch- 
handle.  He  appeared  profoundly  unconscious  of 
all  that  was  passing,  and  never  moved  till  Keene 
addressed  him.  Then,  very  slowly,  he  lifted  up 
his  face.  Few  of  us,  fortunately  for  those  who 
have  strong  imaginations  and  weak  nerves,  see  its 
like  twice  in  a  lifetime,  or  there  would  be  wild 
work  in  dreamland. 

It  was  not  distorted  in  any  way,  nor  deformed, 
except  by  a  ghastly  livid  pallor :  gaunt  and  drawn 
as  the  features  were,  they  still  bore  evident  traces 
of  a  rare  manly  beauty,  that  even  the  neglected 
beard  of  iron-gray  could  not  conceal.  But  it  was 
the  savage  face  of  one  who  has  wrestled  with  jDhys- 
ical  pain  till  it  has  assumed  almost  the  visible  and 
tangible  shape  of  a  personal  enemy  —  a  mocking 
devil,  that  always  is  ready,  with  fresh  ingenuity  of 
torture,  to  answer  and  punish  the  rebellious  ques- 
tion, "  Art  thou  come  to  torment  mo  before  my 
time  ?  "  The  lines  on  the  forehead  were  so  strongly 
marked  and  dreadfully  distinct,  that,  like  the  mark- 
ings of  the  locust,  they  seemed  to  form  characters 
tliat  might  be  read,  if  it  were  given  to  mortal 
cabalists  to  decipher  the  handwriting  of  God. 

Look  once  more  :  it  is  worth  while,  if  you  are 
curious  in  contrasts  and  comparisons.  Five  years 
ago,  that  bowed  blasted  cripple  was  the  most  reck- 


24  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

less  dare-devil,  the  most  splendid  Paladin,  in  all 
the  army  of  Algiers ;  the  man  for  whom,  after  an 
unusually  brilliant  exploit,  St.  Arnaud,  loving 
him  as  his  own  right  hand,  could  find  no  higher 
praise  than  to  write  in  his  despatches,  '^Les  3^"* 
Chasseurs  se  sont  conduits  en  heros ;  leiir  chef- 
cf escaclro7i  en  —  ChdteaumesniL''''  And  it  was 
true  that  the  annals  of  his  house  could  boast  of  no 
nobler  soldier,  though  they  had  been  fighting 
hard  since  Clovis's  day.  His  name  is  known  very 
well  in  Africa.  The  spahis  talk  of  it  still  over 
their  watch-fires,  and  the  wild  Bedouins  load  it 
with  guttural  curses  —  their  lips  white  with  ha- 
tred and  remembered  fear :  they  do  not  forget 
how  far  and  fast  they  fled  into  their  desert  strong- 
holds, and  never  could  shake  off  the  light  cloud 
of  whirling  dust  that  told  how  Armand  and  his 
stanch  gaze-hounds  were  hard  upon  their  trail. 

Eheumatic  fever,  coming  close  on  a  severe  bul- 
let-woiuid,  had  brought  him  very  near  to  death  ; 
and  the  first  thing  he  heard  when  he  began  to 
recover,  was  that  he  would  never  stand  upright 
again. 

He  is  answering  Keene's  salutation. 

"  My  friend,  you  failed  us  last  night  at  the 
Cercle,  and  yet  we  waited  for  you  long."  A 
hoarse  hollow  voice,  —  very  measured  and  slow, 
as  if  carefully  disciplined  to  repress  groans,  —  yet 
every  now  and  then  there  will  come  a  modulation, 
that  shows  how  rich  and  cheery  it  might  have 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  25 

been  when  trolling  a  chanson  a  boire,  —  how  clear 
and  sonorous  when,  over  the  stamping  of  hoofs 
and  the  rattle  of  scabbards,  it  rang  out  the  one 
word  "  Charge  !  "  —  how  winning  and  musical 
when  whispering  into  a  small  pink  ear  laid  against 
his  lips  lovingly. 

The  Vicomte  de  Chateaumesnil  cares  for  but 
one  thing  on  earth  now  —  play,  as  deep  as  he  can 
make  or  find  it.  It  is  not  a  pastime,  or  a  distrac- 
tion, or  aji  occasional  fever-fit,  but  the  sole  interest 
of  his  existence.  A  fearfully  unworthy  and  unsat- 
isfactory one,  you  will  say.  Granted  ;  but  try  and 
realize  his  condition. 

He  is  not  forty  yet.  All  the  passions  of  mature 
manhood  were  alive  Avithin  him  ;  not  one  desire  or 
impulse  had  been  tamed  by  natural  or  even  pre- 
mature decay  at  the  time  he  was  struck  down,  and 
cut  off  from  every  object  and  aim  of  his  former 
life,  when  it  was  too  late  to  form  or  turn  to  others. 
Imagine  how  eagerly  his  strong,  fiery  nature  must 
have  grasped  at  some  of  these,  —  how  it  must  have 
appreciated  the  alternations  of  glory,  pleasure,  and 
peril,  —  all  worse  than  blanks  now.  You  dare  not 
speak  to  him  of  woman's  love.  Worse  than  all 
other  torments  of  the  Titan's  bed  of  pain,  would 
be  wild  dreams  of  impossible  Oceanides ! 

Remember  that  his  only  change  of  scene  is  from 
one  of  the  waters  of  Marah  to  another,  according 
to  his  own  or  his  physician's  fancy  about  mineral 
springs.     Remember,  too,  that  the  cleverest  or  the 


26  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

most  sanguine  of  them  all  have  only  ventured  to 
promise  an  abatement  of  his  agonies :  of  their  ces- 
sation they  say  no  word  ;  nor  can  they  even  proph- 
esy that  the  end  will  come  quickly.  He  is  not 
allowed  to  read  much,  even  if  his  taste  lay  that 
way,  which  it  does  not ;  for  a  literary  Chasseur 
d'Afrique  is  such  a  whim  as  Nature  never  yet  in- 
dulged herself  in.  So  perhaps  he  caught  at  the 
only  resource  that  could  have  saved  him  from 
worse  things ;  under  which,  I  presume^  is  to  be 
included  the  temptation  to  take  laudanum  in  pro- 
portions by  no  means  prescribed  or  sanctioned  by 
the  Faculty. 

Every  day  about  noon  his  servant  helped  him 
into  the  card-room  at  the  club,  and  settled  him  at 
his  own  table,  where,  with  the  two  hours'  respite 
of  dinner,  he  sat  till  midnight,  ready  to  give  battle 
to  all  comers  at  all  weapons,  just  as  the  Knights  of 
Lyonnesse  used  to  keep  a  bridge  or  a  pass  while 
achieving  their  vows.  It  is  needless  to  say  that 
the  changes  of  good  or  bad  luck  affected  him  not 
at  all.  Few  men  of  his  stamp  indulge  in  the 
weakness  of  railing,  at  Fortune,  which  is  the  priv- 
ilege and  consolation  of  the  roturier.  Neither 
was  he  ever  heard  to  reproach  a  partner,  or  be- 
come bitter  against  an  adversary.  He  seemed  to 
take  a  pleasure  in  disappointing  those  who  were 
always  expecting  from  him  some  savage  outbreak 
of  temper :  they  judged  from  his  appearance,  and 
had   some   grounds   for   their   anticipations ;   for, 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  27 

Winning  or  losing,  that  strange  look,  half  weary, 
half  defiant,  never  was  off  his  face.  But,  with 
Armand  de  Chateaumesnil,  the  grand  seigneur 
had  not  been  merged  in  the  soldier :  the  hrnsque- 
rie  of  the  camp  had  not  overlaid  the  manner  of  the 
courtly  school  in  which  he  and  all  his  race  had 
been  trained ;  the  school  of  those  who  would  stab 
their  enemy  to  the  heart  with  sarcasm  or  innuendo, 
but  scorned  to  stun  him  with  blatant  abuse — of  those 
who  would  never  have  dreamt  of  listening  to  a 
woman  with  covered  head  though  they  might  be 
deaf  as  the  nether  millstone  to  her  entreaties  or 
her  tears.  It  was  with  the  Revolution  that  the 
rapier  went  out,  and  the  savate  came  in. 

Yery  few  men  came  up  to  his  standard  of  play ; 
for  he  was  hard  to  please  in  style  as  well  as  in 
stakes.  Keene  did  fully ;  and  this,  with  a  certain 
similarity  of  tastes,  accounted  for  his  liking  the 
latter  so  well.  He  had  little  regard  to  throw 
away,  and  was  chary  of  it  in  proportion.  On  the 
other  hand,  Royston  treated  the  invalid  with  an 
amount  of  deference  very  unusual  with  him,  in 
whom  the  bump  of  Veneration  was  probably  rep- 
resented by  a  cavity. 

The  two  were  still  talking  on  the  terrace,  when 
a  man  passed  them,  who  lifted  his  hat  slightly,  and 
then  siglied  audibly,  looking  upwards  with  an  os- 
tentatious contrition,  as  though  he  apologized  to 
heaven  for  such  a  bowing-down  to  Rimmon.  This 
was  the  Rev.  James  Fullarton,  British  chaplain  at 


28  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

Dorade.  A  difficult  and  anomalous  position  —  in 
which  the  unlucky  divine,  in  addition  to  his  anxi- 
ety about  the  conscientious  discharge  of  his  duties, 
has  to  cultivate  the  friendship  of  a  vast  number  of 
unrighteous  Mammons,  if  he  would  be  allowed  to 
perform  his  functions  at  all.  Our  countrymen  are 
popularly  supposed  to  take  out  a  special  license  for 
liberty  of  thought  and  action  as  soon  as  they  cross 
the  Channel;  and  the  pastor's  pulpit-cushion  can 
hardly  be  stuffed  with  roses  when  every  other 
member  of  his  congregation  —  embracing  devotees 
of  about  a  dozen  different  shades  of  High,  Low, 
and  Broad  Church  —  thinks  it  his  or  her  daily 
duty  to  decide,  if  the  formula  —  Quamdiu  se  bene 
gesserit  —  has  been  duly  complied  with.  Perhaps 
foreign  air  and  warmer  climates  develop,  like  a 
hot-bed,  our  innate  instinct  of  destructiveness. 
Look  at  portly  respectable  fathers  of  families  — 
householders  who,  at  home,  have  accepted  their 
spiritual  position  without  a  murmur  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century,  roused  to  revolt  by  no  vexed  question 
of  copes,  candles,  or  church-rates  —  even  these 
cannot  escape  contagion.  AVhen  once  the  game  is 
afoot,  they  will  open  on  the  scent  with  the  perse- 
verance of  the  steadiest  "  line-hunter,"  and  join  in 
the  "worry"  as  savagely  as  the  youngest  hound. 
I  remember  seeing  a  similar  case  in  Scotland, 
where  a  minister  was  preaching  before  "  the  Men  " 
who  were  appointed  to  judge  of  his  qualifications. 
Right  in  front  of  him,  on  a  low  bench,  sat  the 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  29 

awful  Three,  silent,  stolid,  and  stern.  His  best- 
rounded  periods,  his  neatest  imagery,  his  aptest 
quotations,  brought  no  light  into  their  vacant  gray 
eyes :  perhaps  they  were  lookhig  beyond  all  these, 
straight  at  the  doctrine.  The  breeze  blew  freshly 
from  the  German  Ocean,  over  the  purple  hills  ;  but 
it  brought  no  coolness  to  that  miserable  Boanerges. 
How  he  did  perspire  !  I  could  not  wonder  at  it ; 
and  though  he  preached  for  ninety-five  minutes, 
and  wearied  me  even  to  death,  I  bore  him  no 
enmity,  but  pitied  him  from  my  soul. 

Mr.  FuUarton,  however,  had  steered  through  the 
reefs  and  quicksands  with  better  skill  or  luck  than 
his  fellows,  and  jvidging  from  the  ruddiness  of  his 
broad,  beardless  face,  and  the  amplitude  of  his 
black  waistcoat,  the  cares  of  office  had  not  hitherto 
affected  his  health  materially.  He  was  a  well- 
meaning,  conscientious  man,  ready  to  work  hard 
for  his  flock  and  his  family ;  indeed,  barring  a  cer- 
tain frail  leaning  towards  gourmandise^  of  which 
a  full  pendulous  lip  told  tales,  and  an  occasional 
infirmity  of  temper,  he  had  as  few  outward  failings 
as  could  be  desired.  For  one  of  no  extreme  views, 
he  could  count  an  extraordinary  number  of  adher- 
ents. Without  being  particularly  agreeable  or 
instructive,  lie  possessed  a  rather  imposing  readi- 
ness and  rotundity  of  speech,  and  had  a  knack  of 
turning  his  arm-chair  into  a  pulpit,  somewhat 
oftener  tlian  was  quite  in  good  taste.  However,  I 
suppose  the  best  of  us  will  tallv  "  shop"  when  we 

3* 


30  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

see  a  fair  opening.  He  had  a  large  wife  and  sev- 
eral small  cliildren.  No  one  admired  him  more 
devotedly  than  this  truly  excellent  woman.  As 
far  as  sharing  in  her  husband's  successes  went,  or 
partaking  in  any  other  advantages  of  society,  she 
might  as  well  have  been  the  squaw  of  an  Iowa 
brave ;  for  her  time  was  more  than  taken  up  in 
tending  her  offspring,  and  in  providing  for  her 
lord  the  savory  meats  in  which  he  delighted ;  but 
she  looked  the  picture  of  contentment,  and  so 
nobody  thought  it  necessary  to  pity  her. 

From  the  first  moment  of  their  meeting  the  chap- 
lain had  entertained  a  nervous  dislike,  approaching 
to  a  presentiment,  toward  Royston  Keene.  He  re- 
garded him  as  a  brand  likely  to  inflame  others,  but 
itself  by  no  means  to  be  plucked  from  the  burning. 
The  latter  saw  his  gesture  as  he  passed,  and  smiled 
—  not  pleasantly.  "Remark  the  shepherd,  M.  le 
Yicomte,"  he  said ;  "  he  sees  the  wolves  prowling, 
and  trembles  for  his  lambs." 

'^  One  wolf,  at  least,  is  toothless,"  answered  Cha- 
teaumesnil.  "  What  have  we  to  do  with  lambs, 
except  en  supreme  ?  But  the  sun  is  down  ;  I  must 
go  home,  or  these  cursed  pains  will  avenge  them- 
selves.    Till  this  evening." 

"  I  will  not  fail ;  but  you  w^ill  permit  me  to 
accompany  you  so  far,"  said  Keene,  bending  over 
the  invalid  witli  the  grand,  courteous  air  that  be- 
came him  well ;  and  he  walked  by  the  other's  side 
till  they  reached  his  door,  talking  over  the  varying 
fortimes  of  last  night's  play. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

YOU  have  found  out  already  that  you  are  only 
looking  at  a  cliaplet  of  cameos,  with  just 
enough  of  story  to  string  them  together.  Under 
these  circumstances,  the  right  thing  of  course  to  do 
is  to  work  out  each  character  by  the  rules  of  meta- 
physical mathematics,  and  then  to  reverse  the  pro- 
cess and  "  prove"  the  result.  But  I  never  tried  to 
extract  the  square  root  out  of  anything  without  fail- 
ing miserably,  and  one  can  only  speak  and  act  and 
write  according  to  one's  light.  After  all,  it  seems 
a  more  uncertain  science  than  astronomy.  Comets 
will  appear,  now  and  then,  at  abnormal  times,  and 
in  places  where  they  have  no  heavenly  business  ;  and 
people  are  still  to  be  found,  so  very  ill-regulated  as 
to  go  right  or  wrong  in  opposition  to  all  rules  and 
precedents.  Where  the  variations  are  so  infinite, 
it  is  difficult  to  argue  safely  from  one  singular  ex- 
ample to  another,  and,  if  you  miss  one  step,  your 
whole  deduction  is  apt  to  come  to  grief.  Some 
one  said,  that  "  there  were  corners  in  the  nature 
of  the  simplest  peasant-girl  to  which  the  cleverest 
man  alive  could  never  find  a  key."  Perhaps,  too, 
those  who    fancy,  rightly  or  wrongly,  that    they 


32  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

have  mesmerized  the  heart  even  of  one  fellow- 
creature  so  completely  that  the  poor  thing  could 
not,  if  it  would,  keep  back  a  single  secret,  think  it 
hardly  fair  to  give  the  world  in  general  the  full 
benefit  of  their  discoveries.  Practically,  does  all 
this  help  one  much  ?  It  is  possible  that  some  who 
have  passed  for  the  deepest  observers  of  human 
nature  owed  their  renown  more  to  an  acute  obser- 
vation of  the  phenomena  of  feeling,  an  intuitive 
knowledge  of  what  people  like  and  dislike,  a  reten- 
tive memory,  and  a  happy  knack  of  making  all 
these  available  at  the  right  moment,  than  to  any 
j^rofound  reasoning  on  abstract  principles.  Like 
some  untaught  arithmeticians,  their  calculations 
came  out  correct,  but  they  could  not  have  gone 
through  the  steps  of  the  process. 

There  lives,  even  now,  a  sublime  theorist,  who 
professes  to  have  made  feminine  physiology  his 
peculiar  study.  Sitting  at  his  desk,  or  in  his  arm- 
chair, he  will  trace  the  motives,  impulses,  and 
sensations,  which  a  woman  must  necessarily  have 
experienced  under  any  given  circumstances,  as 
lucidly  as  a  skilful  pathologist,  scalpel  in  hand, 
may  lecture  on  the  material  mysteries  of  the  blood 
or  brain:  he  will  analyze  for  you  the  waters  of 
the  Fons  Lacrymarum^  just  as  Letheby  or  Taylor 
might  do  those  of  a  new  chalyl^eate  spring.  A 
fearful  power,  is  it  not,  and  fatal,  if  used  tyran- 
nously  ?  Well,  I  remember  hearing  a  very  beau- 
tiful and  charming  person  speak  of  an  evening  she 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  33 

had  spent  in  the  society  of  The  Adept,  during 
which  she  was  conscious  of  being  subjected  to  the 
action  of  his  microscope,  stethoscope,  and  other 
engines  of  science.  She  said,  '^  it  did  not  hurt  her 
much,"  and  on  the  whole  seemed  by  no  means  so 
impressed  with  awe  and  admiration  as  could  be 
wished.  Indeed,  before  they  parted,  if  any  one 
was  disquieted,  discomfited,  or  otherwise  damaged, 
I  fancy  it  was — not  the  loveliest  Margaret.  From 
my  slight  acquaintance  with  that  tremendous  phi- 
losopher, supposing  that  he  were  turned  loose 
among  a  bevy  of  perfectly  well-educated  women, 
and  meant  mischief,  I  should  be  disposed  to  lay 
longer  odds  against  his  chances  than  I  would 
against  those  of  many  men  who  have  never  read 
one  word  of  Balzac,  Michelet,  or  Kant. 

Still,  as  was  aforesaid,  in  the  days  of  high  art 
and  high  farming,  high  physiology  is  clearly  the 
thing  to  go  for.  So,  for  my  shortcomings,  to  all 
critics,  —  ethic,  dialectic,  assthetic,  and  ascetic, — 
I  cry  mea  culpa^  thus  audibly. 

Nevertheless,  while  they  are  waiting  for  her  at 
Dorade,  we  will  try  to  sketch  Cecil  Tresilyan. 

Her  father  died  when  she  was  too  young  to  re- 
member him,  and  the  first  fourteen  years  of  her 
life  were  spent  almost  entirely  in  the  old  Cornish 
manor-house  from  which  her  family  took  its  name. 
That  great  rambling  pile  stood  at  the  head  of  a 
glen,  terraced  at  first  into  gardens,  and  then 
thickly  wooded,  and  stretching  down  to  the  shore. 


34  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

There  was  a  small  bay  just  here,  the  mouth  of 
which  curved  inwards  very  abruptly.  It  seemed 
as  if  the  black  cliffs  had  caught  the  sea  in  a  trap, 
and  stood  forward  to  keep  the  outlet  fast  forever : 
the  waves  were  free  to  come  and  go  for  a  certain 
distance,  but  never  to  rave  or  rebel  any  more : 
when  their  brethren  of  the  open  main  went  out  to 
war,  the  captives  inside  might  hear  the  din,  but 
not  break  out  to  join  them ;  they  could  only  leap 
up  weakly  against  their  prison-bars.  There  was 
nothing  at  all  remarkable  in  the  house  itself,  ex- 
cept its  furniture  and  panellings  of  black  oak, 
and  two  pictures,  to  which  was  attached  a  story 
bearing  on  the  hereditary  failing  which  had  made 
the  family  proverbial.  The  first  was  the  likeness  of 
a  lovely  girl,  in  the  court  dress  of  James  the  Sec- 
ond's time,  with  beautiful  hazel  eyes,  half  timid, 
half  trusting,  like  a  pet  doe's.  The  second  repre- 
sented a  woman,  perhaps  of  middle  age :  in  this 
the  hood  of  a  dark  gray  dress  was  drawn  far  for- 
ward, and  under  it  the  eyes  shone  out  of  the  col- 
orless face  with  a  fixed  expression  of  helpless 
agonized  terror,  as  of  one  fascinated  by  some 
ghostly  apparition.  You  were  sorry  when  you 
realized  that  they  were  j^ortraits  of  the  same 
person. 

Sir  Ewes  Tresilyan  was  a  man  of  strong  passions 
and  rather  weak  brain,  —  of  few  words  and  fewer 
sympathies  ;  he  never  made  a  com23anion  of  Mabel, 
his  daughter,  though  his  love  for  her  was  the  feel- 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  85 

ing'  next  his  heart,  after  his  ahnost  insane  pride ; 
but  he  trusted  her  implicitly,  —  less  because  he 
had  foitli  in  her  truth  and  goodness,  than  because 
he  held  it  as  impossible  for  a  Tresilyan  to  disgrace 
herself  or  otherwise  derogate,  as  for  the  moon  to 
fall  from  heaven.  He  was  no  classic,  you  see,  and 
had  never  read  of  Endymion. 

In  her  solitary  rides  Mabel  met  the  son  of  a 
neigliboring  squire,  and  they  soon  began  to  love 
each  other  after  the  good  old  fashion.  Neither  had 
one  thought  that  was  not  honest  and  pure  ;  but 
they  were  so  afraid  of  her  father  that  they  dared 
not  ask  his  consent  to  their  marriage  as  yet.  They 
Avere  prudent,  but  not  prudent  or  patient  enough. 
So  there  came  about  meetings  —  first  at  noon  in 
the  woods,  then  at  twilight  in  the  park,  then  at 
midnight  in  the  garden ;  and  at  last  Sir  Ewes  Tre- 
silyan  heard  of  it  all ;  and  heard,  too,  that  his 
daughter's  name  was  abroad  in  the  country-side, 
and  more  than  lightly  spoken  of.  That  day,  as 
the  sun  was  setting,  two  men  stood  foot  to  foot, 
with  their  doublets  off,  on  the  very  spot  of  smooth 
turf  where  the  lovers  parted  last ;  and  Arthur 
Bampfylde  had  to  hold  his  own,  as  best  he  might, 
with  the  deadliest  rapier  in  the  Western  shires. 
Poor  boy !  — he  would  scarcely  have  had  the  heart  to 
do  his  uttermost  against  Mallei's  father  ;  but  better 
will  and  skill  would  have  availed  little  against  the 
thirsty  point  that  came  creeping  along  his  blade 
and  leaping  over  his  guard  like  a  viper's  tongue. 


36  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

At  the  sixth  pass  his  enemy  shook  him  heavily  off 
his  sword,  wounded  to  the  death.  He  had  tried 
explanation  before,  utterly  in  vain ;  but  the  true 
heart  would  make  one  effort  more  to  get  justice 
done,  before  it  ceased  to  beat.  He  gasped  out 
these  words  through  the  rush  of  blood  that  was 
choking  him  —  "  Mabel !  —  I  swear,  she  is  as  pure 
as  the  Mother  of  God  ;  and  I  —  what  had  I 
done  ?  " 

Sir  Ewes  knelt  down  and  lifted  Arthur's  head 
upon  his  knee — not  in  pity,  but  that  he  might 
hear  the  more  distinctly.  "  I  will  tell  you,"  he 
said  ;  "  you  have  wooed  a  Tresilyan  like  a  yeoman's 
daughter."  The  homicide  wrote  in  his  confession 
of  all  this  that,  as  he  laid  the  head  gently  down,  a 
smile  came  upon  the  lips  before  they  set.  Was  it 
that  the  parting  spirit — standing  on  the  thresh- 
old of  Eternity,  and  almost  within  the  light  of  the 
grand  secret  —  fathomed  the  earth-worm's  miser- 
able vanity,  and  could  not  refrain  its  scorn  ? 

Mabel  was  sitthig  alone  when  her  father  re- 
turned. She  had  no  idea  that  anything  had  been 
discovered ;  but  the  instant  she  saw  his  face,  she 
cast  herself  on  her  knees,  crying,  "  I  am  inno- 
cent ;  indeed  I  have  done  no  wrong  !  " 

He  griped  her  arm  and  raised  her  up,  gazing 
straight  and  steadfastly  at  her  for  some  moments  : 
then  he  gave  his  verdict  — "  Guilty  of  having 
brought  shame  on  your  house  ;  not  guilty  of  sin, 
I  know,  or  this  should  only  half  atone,"  —  and  he 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  37 

drew  out  the  blade  that  had  never  been  wiped 
smce  it  drank  her  lover's  blood. 

She  slid  slowly  down  out  of  his  grasp,  never 
speaking,  but  bearing  in  her  eyes  the  awful  look 
of  horror  that  became  frozen  there  forever.  The 
second  picture  might  have  been  taken  then,  though 
it  was  not  iminted  till  long  afterward.  Slie  never 
thenceforth,  while  her  father  lived,  left  the  wing 
of  the  Manor-house  in  which  her  rooms  lay  ;  neither 
did  he,  or  any  one  else,  except  the  two  servants 
who  attended  her,  look  upon  her  face.  People 
pitied  her  very  much  at  first,  and  then  forgot  her 
entirely.  Once  the  Superior  of  a  Belgian  convent, 
a  relation  of  the  family,  offered  to  admit  Mabel, 
if  she  chose  to  take  the  vows.  Perhaps  Sir  Ewes 
Tresilyan  was  more  gratified  than  he  liked  to  show, 
for  the  best  blood  in  Europe  was  to  be  found  in 
that  sisterhood ;  but  his  reply  was  not  a  gracious 
one  :  — 

''  I  thank  the  Abbess,"  he  wrote  ;  ''  but  ive  are 
used  to  choose  for  our  gifts  the  most  precious 
thing  we  have  —  not  the  most  worthless.  I  will 
not  lighten  my  house  from  a  heavy  burden,  by 
offering  it  to  God." 

He  relented,  however,  when  he  was  dymg,  and 
sent  for  his  daughter.  Yery  reluctantly  sho  came. 
He  had  prepared,  I  believe,  a  pompous  and  proper 
oration,  Avhcrein  he  was  to  pardon  her  and  even 
bestow  a  sort  of  qualified  blessing ;  but  the  wan 
face   and   wild  hollow  eyes,  not  seen  for  twelve 

4 


38  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

years,  frigliteiiecl  all  liis  grandeur  out  of  his  head ; 
and  the  obstinate  narrow-minded  tyrant  collapsed 
all  at  once  into  a  foolish,  fond  old  man.  Some- 
thing too  late  (that's  one  comfort)  to  avail  him 
much.  In  Mabel's  nature,  soft  and  yielding  as  it 
appeared,  there  was  the  black  spot  that  nothing 
but  harshness  and  cruelty  could  have  brought  out 
—  the  utter  incapacity  of  relenting,  which  had 
given  rise  to  the  rude  rhyme  known  through 
three  counties  — 

In  Tresilyan's  face 
Fault  finds  no  grace. 

So,  when  the  sick  man  cried  out  to  her,  through 
his  sobs,  to  kiss  him  and  forgive  him,  the  dreary 
monotonous  voice  only  answered,  "  I  can  kiss  you, 
father ; "  and  when  she  had  laid  her  icicles  of 
lips  on  his  forehead,  she  glided  out  of  the  room 
like  a  ghost  that  has  accomplished  its  mission  and 
hastens  away  to  its  own  place.  Sir  Ewes  never 
tried  to  call  her  back ;  he  scarcely  spoke  at  all  in- 
telligibly after  that ;  but  lay,  for  the  few  remaining 
hours  of  life,  moaning  to  himself,  his  face  turned 
to  the  wall. 

For  a  very  short  time  after  her  father's  death, 
Mabel  seemed  to  take  a  pleasure  in  roaming  about 
the  gardens  and  woods  from  which  she  had  been 
debarred  so  long ;  but  the  walks  grew  gradually 
shorter,  and  she  soon  shut  herself  up  in  the  house 
entirely,  seeing  only  a  few  of  her  near  relatives. 
It  was  one  of  these  who,   at   her   own   request, 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  39 

painted  the  second  portrait,  —  a  rude  performance, 
but  it  must  have  been  a  likeness.  She  seemed  to 
feel  an  odd  sort  of  satisfaction  in  looking  at  the 
two  and  comparing  them.  Her  brain  was  some- 
what clouded  and  unsteady :  but  I  fancy  she  was 
counting  up  all  the  harm  and  wrong  the  hard 
world  had  done  to  her,  and  calculating  what 
amends  would  be  made  in  the  next.  I  doubt  not 
they  Were  kind  and  pitiful  and  indulgent  enough 
there ;  but  on  earth  she  found  no  source  of  com- 
fort strong  enough  to  banish  from  her  eyes  that 
terrible  look  which  haunted  them  within  five  min- 
utes of  her  end. 

When  spirits  assemble  from  the  four  corners  of 
heaven,  how  many  thousand  companions,  think 
you,  will  greet  the   Gileadite's  daughter? 

Before  you  saAV  Cecil  Tresilyan's  face,  the  curve 
of  her  neck,  and  the  way  her  head  was  set  on  it, 
told  you  that  she  was  by  no  means  exempt  from 
the  family  failing  which  had  laid  its  hand  so  heav- 
ily on  her  ancestress.  Yet  it  was  not  a  hard  or 
habitually  haughty,  or  even  a  very  decided  face. 
There  was  nothing  alarmingly  severe  about  the 
slight  aquiline  of  the  nose  ;  the  chin  did  not  look 
as  if  it  were  "  carved  in  marble,"  or  "  clasped  in 
steel,"  or  as  if  it  were  made  of  anything  but  soft 
flesh  prettily  dimpled ;  the  delicate  scarlet  lip, 
when  it  curled,  rarely  went  beyond  sauciness ; 
though  the  splendid  violet  eyes  could  well  express 
disdain,  this  was  not  their  favorite  expression, — 


40  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

and  they  had  many.  The  head  would  certainly 
have  been  too  small  had  it  not  been  for  the  glossy 
masses  of  dark-chestnut  hair  sweeping  down  low  all 
round  it,  smooth  and  unbroken  as  a  deep  river  in 
its  first  curl  over  a  cataract.  Candid  friends  said 
her  complexion  was  not  bright  enough ;  perhaps 
they  were  right ;  but  the  color  had  not  forgotten 
how  to  come  and  go  there  at  fitting  seasons:  at 
any  rate,  the  grand,  clear  white  could  never  be 
mistaken  for  an  unhealthy  pallor.  An  extraordi- 
narily good  constitution  was  ever  part  of  a  Tresil- 
yan's  inheritance  ;  and  if  you  doubted  whether  her 
blood  circulated  freely,  you  had  only  to  compare 
her  cheek,  on  a  bitter  March  day,  with  some  red- 
and-white  ones,  when  a  sharp  east  wind  had  forced 
those  last  to  mount  all  the  stripes  of  the  tricolor. 
By  the  way,  are  not  the  ''roses  dipped  in  milk" 
going  out  of  fashion  just  now?  A  humble  but 
stanch  adherent  of  the  house  of  York,  1  like  to 
thhik  —  how  many  battle-fields,  since  Towton,  our 
Flower  has  won ! 

But  if  Cecil's  face  was  not  faultless,  her  figure 
ivas.  Had  one  single  proportion  been  exaggerated 
or  deficient,  she  could  never  have  carried  off  her 
height  so  lithely  and  gracefully.  She  might  take 
twenty  poses  in  a  morning,  and  people  always 
thought  they  would  choose  the  last  one  to  have  her 
painted  in.  Here,  she  was  quite  inimitable.  For 
instance,  women,  I  believe,  used  to  practise  in  their 
own  rooms  for  hours  to  catch  her  peculiar  way  of 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  41 

half-reclining  in  an  arm-chair  ;  but  the  most  pains- 
taking of  them  all  never  achieved  anything  beyond 
a  caricature.  Yet  no  one  could  accuse  her  of 
studying  stage-effects.  If  a  trifle  of  the  Incedo 
Regina  marked  her  walk  and  carriage,  it  was  a 
I'Eugenie,  not  a  la  Statira. 

Indeed,  she  was  thoroughly  natural  all  over  ; 
cleverer  and  more  fascinating,  certainly,  than 
ninety-nine  women  out  of  every  hundred  ;  but  not 
one  bit  more  strong-mmded,  or  heroic,  or  self- 
denying.  She  had  been  very  well  brought  up, 
and  had  undeniably  good  principles  ;  but  she  would 
yield  to  occasional  small  temptations  with  perfect 
grace  and  facility.  Great  ones  she  had  never  yet 
encoimtered  ;  for  Cecil,  if  not  quite  fancy-free,  had 
only  read  and  perhaps  dreamt  of  passions.  She 
had  known  one  remorse,  of  which  you  may  hear 
hereafter,  (not  a  heavy  allowance  considering  her 
opportunities,)  and  one  grief — the  death  of  her 
mother.  She  entertained  a  remarkable  reverence 
for  all  ministers  of  the  Established  Church ;  yet 
she  was  about  the  last  woman  alive  to  have  married 
a  clergyman,  and  would  have  considered  the  charge 
of  the  old  women  and  schools  of  a  country  parish 
as  a  lingering  and  unsatisfactory  martyrdom. 
There  never  was  a  more  constant  attendant  at  all 
sorts  of  divine  service  ;  though  perhaps  the  most 
casual  of  worshippers  had  never  been  more  bored 
than  she  was  by  some  of  the  discourses  to  which 
she  listened  so  patiently.     She  would  confess  this 

4# 


42  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

to  yoii  at  luncheon,  and  then  start  for  the  same 
church  m  the  afternoon,  with  an  edifying  but 
rather  comic  expression  of  resignation.  I  am  sure 
she  would  not  deliberately  have  vexed  the  smallest 
child ;  and  yet  the  number  of  athletic  men  who 
ascribed  the  loss  of  their  peace  of  mind  to  her  was, 
as  the  Yankees  have  it,  "  a  caution."  Some  of 
the  ^'  regulars,"  wary  adventuresses  of  three  sea- 
sons' standing,  had  brought  off  several  pretty  good 
things  by  following  her,  and  picking  up  the  victims 
fluttering  about  helpless  in  their  first  despair,  just 
as  the  keepers  after  a  battue  go  round  the  covers 
with  the  retrievers. 

If  there  were  any  more  antitheses  in  her  char- 
acter, they  had  better  speak  for  themselves  here- 
after ;  nor  is  there  much  that  need  be  told  about 
her  companions. 

Mrs.  Danvers,  or  "  Bessie,"  as  she  liked  to  be 
called,  had  been  Cecil's  last  governess,  and  was 
retired  on  full-pay,  which,  she  flattered  herself, 
she  earned  in  the  capacity  of  travelling  chaperone 
and  censor  ;  but,  inasmuch  as  wdien  she  really  held 
some  tutelar  authority,  her  pupil  had  never  taken 
the  slightest  notice  of  her  prohibitions,  she  could 
hardly  be  expected  now  to  exercise  any  very  salu- 
tary influence  or  control. 

Dick  Tresilyan  was  absurdly  proud  and  fond  of 
his  sister,  and  performed  all  her  behests  with  a 
blind  obedience ;  but  when  he  heard  that  he  was 
to  attend  her  during  a  whole  winter's  residence 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  43 

abroad,  he  did  think  that  it  was  stretching  her 
prerogative  to  the  verge  of  tyranny.  No  wonder. 
A  dragoon  who  has  lost  his  horse,  a  goose  on  a 
turnpike-road,  or  any  other  popular  type  of  help- 
lessness, does  not  present  so  lamentable  a  picture 
as  a  Briton  in  a  foreign  land,  without  resources  in 
himself,  and  with  a  rooted  aversion  to  the  use  of 
any  language  except  his  own.  In  this  case  the 
victim  actually  attempted  some  feeble  remonstrance 
and  argument  on  the  subject.  Cecil  was  almost  as 
much  astonished  as  the  Prophet  was  under  similar 
circumstances ;  but  she  considered  that  habits  of 
discussion  in  beasts  of  burden  and  the  lower  order 
of  animals  generally  were  inconvenient  and  rather 
to  be  discouraged ;  so  she  cut  it  short,  now,  some- 
what imperiously.  Thereupon,  Dick  Tresilyan 
slid  into  a  slough  of  despond,  in  which  he  had 
been  wallowing  ever  since.  A  faint  gleam  of  sun- 
shine broke  in  when  one  of  his  intimates,  hearing 
he  was  going  to  France,  suggested  "  that 's  where 
the  brandy  comes  from ; "  but  it  was  instantly 
overclouded  by  the  remark  which  followed  —  "I 
suppose,  though,  you  won't  be  able  to  drink  much 
more  of  it  than  you  do  here  ;  "  on  realizing  which 
crushing  fact,  his  melancholy  became,  if  possible, 
more  profound  than  ever.  Indeed,  since  he  crossed 
the  Channel,  he  had  spent  most  of  his  leisure  mo- 
ments in  a  sort  of  chronic  blasphemy,  whicli,  it  is 
to  be  hoped,  afforded  him  some  slight  relief  and 
consolation,  as  it  was  wholly  unintelligible  to  his 


44  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

audience ;  for,  to  do  Dick  justice,  in  his  sister's 
presence  the  door  of  his  lijDS  was  always  strictly- 
guarded. 

However,  to  Dorado  they  came  —  hours  after 
their  time,  of  course,  but  perfectly  safe :  no  acci- 
dent ever  does  happen  in  France  to  anything  prop- 
erly booked,  except  to  luggage  sent  by  Roulage, 
to  which  there  attaches  the  romantic  uncertainty 
of  Vanderdecken's  correspondence.  Cecil  rather 
liked  travelling ;  it  never  tired  her ;  so,  by  mid- 
night she  had  seen  Mrs.  Danvers,  weary  and  quer- 
ulous, to  bed  — -  gone  through  a  variety  of  gymnas- 
tics in  the  way  of  accolades,  with  Fanny  Molyneux 
—  taken  some  trouble  in  inquiring  about  shooting 
and  other  amusements  likely  to  divert  her  brother 
from  his  sorrows  —  and  yet  did  not  feel  very  sleepy. 

They  ignore  shutters  in  these  climes ;  and  her 
reflection  was  still  flitting  backward  and  forward 
across  the  white  window-blinds  as  Royston  Keene 
came  home  from  the  Cercle.  He  knew  the  room, 
or  guessed  who  the  shadow  belonged  to ;  and  as 
he  moved  away,  after  pausing  a  minute  or  two,  he 
waved  his  hand  towards  it,  with  a  gesture  so  im- 
warrantably  like  a  salute  that,  were  silhouettes 
sensitive  or  prudish,  it  might  have  proved  an  of- 
fence not  easily  forgiven. 


CHAPTER    Y. 

THE  next  morning  was  so  soft  and  sunny,  that 
it  tempted  Miss  Tresilyan  out  on  the  terrace 
of  their  hotel  very  soon  after  breakfast.  She  was 
waiting  for  her  brother  on  the  top  of  the  steps 
leading  down  into  the  road,  when  Major  Keene 
passed  by  again.  If  he  had  never  heard  of  her 
before,  the  smooth,  sweeping  outline  of  her  mag- 
nificent form,  and  the  careless  grace  of  her  atti- 
tude, as  she  stood  leaning  against  the  stone  balus- 
trade, were  not  likely  to  escape  an  eye  that  was 
wont  to  light  on  every  point  of  feminine  perfection, 
as  a  poacher's  does  on  a  sitting  hare.  But  he 
never  got  so  far  as  her  face  then ;  and  hardly 
had  time  to  criticise  her  figure  ;  for  at  that  mo- 
ment, a  brisk  gust  of  the  mistral  swept  round  the 
corner,  and  revealed  a  foot  and  ankle  so  mar- 
vellously exquisite,  that  they  attracted  his  eyes,  as 
long  as  he  dared  to  fix  them  without  risking  a 
stare  ;  and  kept  his  thoughts  busy  till  he  saw  her 
again.  '^  Caramba  I  ^^  he  muttered,  half  aloud. 
''  I  don't  wonder  at  any  one  who  has  seen  that^  not 
looking  at  a  nautch-girl  afterward."  And  he 
quickened  his  pace  toward  Mr.  Molyneux's  house. 
He  met  them  before  he  reached  their  door. 


46  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

"  I  am  going  to  Miss  Tresilyan,"  Fanny  said. 
"  Is  n't  it  lucky,  her  first  morning  here  being  such 
a  delicious  one  ?  " 

"  Ah,  I  thought  that  was  your  point,"  answered 
Keene.  "  There  must  be  a  tremendous  amount  of 
'  gushing '  to  be  got  through  still :  the  accumula- 
tion of —  how  many  months  ?  I  suppose  you  only 
took  the  rough  edge  off  last  night.  Don't  hurt 
her,  please,  that 's  all.  And,  Hal,  you  were  actu- 
ally going  to  preside  over  the  meeting  of  two  young 
hearts,  and  gloat  over  their  emotions,  and  spoil 
their  innocent  amusements  ?  I  wonder  at  you. 
Means  well,  Mrs.  Molyneux ;  but  he  's  so  thought- 
less." 

Fanny  laughed.  "  I  think  I  could  do  without 
him.  But  we  mean  to  walk  this  afternoon,  and 
he  may  come  then  ;  and  you  too,  Major  Keene,  if 
you  are  good." 

"  I  '11  enter  into  all  sorts  of  recognizances  to 
keep  the  peace,"  was  the  reply  ;  ''  but  I  should 
have  thought  you  might  trust  me  by  this  time. 
It 's  that  excitable  husband  of  yours  that  wants 
disciplining.  I  '11  give  him  some  soda-water,  by 
way  of  a  precaution.  Then,  when  you  have  sacri- 
ficed to  friendship  sufficiently,  you  will  lionize  Miss 
Tresilyan  ?  The  Castle  first,  of  course.  Shall  we 
meet  you  there  at  two  ?  " 

Harry  did  not  quite  see  the  thing  in  this  light, 
and  looked  slightly  disappointed;  but  he  yielded 
the  point,  as  he  always  did,  and  went  away  duti- 
fully with  his  superior  officer. 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  47 

"  Describe  the  brother,"  the  latter  said,  abruptly, 
when  they  had  gone  a  few  steps. 

"  Well,  I  believe  he  's  the  most  ignorant  man  in 
Great  Britain,"  answered  Molyneux :  "  that 's  his 
specialite.  He  never  had  much  education  ;  and 
he  has  been  trying  to  forget  that  little,  '  hard  all,' 
ever  since  he  was  eighteen.  You  remember  how 
our  fellows  used  to  laugh  at  me  about  my  epistles  ? 
I  could  give  him  21  lb.,  and  a  beating,  any  day. 
They  say  two  men  have  to  stand  over  him  when- 
ever he  tries  to  write  a  letter,  for  no  one  is  strong 
enough  to  keep  him  straight  in  his  spelling  and 
grammar.  If  he  tries  it  on  alone,  he  gets  bewil- 
dered in  the  second  sentence,  and  wanders  up  and 
down,  knocking  his  head  against  particles  and  parts 
of  speech,  like  the  man  in  the  Maze ;  and  throws 
up  the  sponge  at  last,  utterly  beat.  Helplessly  de- 
voted to  his  sister,  but  rather  obstinate  with  other 
people,  and  apt  to  be  sulky  sometimes  ;  but  good- 
natured,  on  the  whole  ;  and  drinks  very  fair." 

''  0,  he  drinks  fair,  does  he  ?  "  Royston  said, 
meditatively.  "  Has  that  anything  to  do  with  his 
brotherly  affection  ?  Everybody  who  is  fond  of 
Miss  Tresilyan  seems  to  take  to  liquor.  Annesley 
was  pretty  sober  till  he  knew  her.  It 's  rather 
odd.     I  don't  suppose  she  encourages  them  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not ;  at  least,  I  know  she  has  tried 
to  stint  Dick  in  his  brandy,  very  often.  It 's  the 
only  point  she  has  never  been  able  to  carry." 

"  A  man  must  be  firm  about  some  one  thing," 


48  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

the  other  remarked,  "  or  there  's  an  end  of  free- 
agency  altogether.  He  has  no  intellects  to  be 
affected  by  it,  apparently ;  and  I  daresay  his 
health  does  not  suffer  much  yet.  It 's  a  question 
of  constitution,  after  all." 

He  dropped  the  subject  then,  and  was  very  silent 
all  the  rest  of  the  morning,  till  they  came  to  the 
place  of  meeting.  Somehow  or  another,  it  did  not 
occur  to  him  to  mention  to  Harry  what  he  had 
seen  on  the  terrace. 

They  had  not  waited  long,  before  the  three 
women  eame  slowly  up  the  zigzags  of  the  path 
that  wound  round  the  Castle-hill.  Dick  Tresilyan 
had  "  got  his  pass  signed  "  for  the  day,  and  had 
started  off,  with  his  courier,  to  make  the  lives  of 
several  natives  a  burden  to  them,  on  the  subject  of 
becasses  and  be cas sines. 

Cecil  might  have  been  known  by  her  walk 
among  ten  thousand.  She  seemed  to  float  along 
without  any  visible  exertion,  as  if  her  dress  were 
buoyant,  and  bore  her  up  in  some  mysterious 
fashion ;  but,  looking  closer,  and  marking  how 
straight  and  firmly  and  lightly  every  foot-fall  was 
planted,  you  gave  the  narrow  arched  instep,  and 
the  slender  rounded  ankle,  the  credit  they  well 
deserved  ;  marvelling  only  that  so  delicate  a  sym- 
metry could  conceal  so  much  sinewy  power. 
Upon  this  occasion,  she  was  evidently  accommodat- 
ing her  pace  to  that  of  Mrs.  Danvers  ;  and  no 
racing  man   could    have   seen   the   two,   without 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  49 

thinking  of  one  of  the  Flyers  of  the  turf  walking 
down  by  the  side  of  the  trainer's  pony. 

Miss  Tresilyan's  hat,  of  soft  black  felt,  shaded 
by  a  black-cock's  feather,  was  decidedly  in  advance 
of  her  age  :  for  that  very  provocative  head-gear, 
with  the  Toaany-coloYod  panaches,  had  not  then  be- 
come so  common  ;  and  even  the  Passionate  Pil- 
grim might  hope  (with  luck)  to  walk  along  a  pier 
or  a  parade,  without  meeting  a  succession  of  Red 
Rovers  —  each  capable  of  boarding  him  at  a  min- 
ute's notice,  and  making  all  his  affections  walk  the 
plank.  Her  tunic  of  iron-gray  velvet,  without 
fitting  tightly  to  her  figure,  still  did  it  fair  justice  ; 
and,  from  the  tie  of  her  neck-ribbon,  down  to  the 
wonderful  boots  that  slid  in  and  out  from  under 
the  striped  scarlet  kirtle  over  which  her  dress  was 
looped  up,  there  was  not  the  minutest  detail  that 
might  not  have  challenged  and  baffled  criticism. 

Royston  Keene  appreciated  all  this  thoroughly. 
No  man  alive  held  the  stale  old  adage  of  ''  Beauty 
when  unadorned,"  cfcc,  in  profounder  scorn.  A 
pair  of  badly-fitting  gloves,  a  soiled  collerette,  or  a 
tumbled  dress  had  cured  more  than  one  of  the 
fever-fits  of  his  younger  days  ;  and  he  was  ten 
times  as  fastidious  now. 

He  drew  a  long  slow  breath  of  intense  enjoy- 
ment, as  a  thirsty  cricketer  may  do  after  the  first 
deep  draught  of  claret-cup  that  rewards  a  two 
hours'  innings.  "  It 's  very  refreshing,  after 
weeks  of  total   abstinence,  to   see   a  woman  who 


50  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

goes  in  for  dress,  and  does  it  thoroughly  well." 
He  had  no  time  for  more,  for  the  others  were 
almost  within  hearing. 

When  the  introductions  were  over,  Mrs.  Dan- 
vers  said  she  was  tired,  and  must  rest  a  little. 
Very  few  words  will  do  justice  to  her  personal 
appearance.  Brevity,  and  breadth,  and  bluntness, 
were  her  chief  characteristics,  which  applied  equally 
to  her  figure,  her  face,  and  her  extremities ;  and, 
not  unfrequently,  to  her  speech  too.  Her  health 
was  really  infirm,  but  she  never  could  attain  the 
object  of  many  an  invalid's  harmless  ambition  — 
looking  interesting.  Illness  made  her  cheeks  look 
pasty,  but  not  pale ;  it  could  not  fiile  down  the 
coarsely-moulded  features,  or  purify  their  ignoble 
outline.  Her  voice  was  against  her,  certainly : 
perhaps  this  was  the  reason  why,  when  she  be- 
moaned herself,  so  many  irreverent  and  hard- 
hearted reprobates  called  it  "  whining."  It  was 
very  unfortunate ;  for  few  could  be  found,  even 
in  the  somewhat  exacting  class  to  which  she  be- 
longed, more  anxious  and  active  in  enlisting  sym- 
pathy. She  was  looking  especially  ill-tempered 
just  then,  but  Major  Keene  was  not  easily  daunted, 
and  he  went  in  at  her  straight  and  gallantly, — 
about  the  weather,  it  is  needless  to  say,  both  being 
English.  While  Mrs.  Danvers  was  disagreeing 
with  him,  Cecil  took  her  turn  at  inspection.  Roy- 
ston's  name  was  familiar  to  her,  of  course,  for  no 
one  ever  talked  to  Mrs.  Molyneux  for  ten  minutes 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  51 

without  hearing  it.  Though  she  had  scarcely 
glanced  at  him  in  the  morning,  she  had  decided 
that  tlie  tall  erect  figure  and  the  enormous  mous- 
tache, with  its  crocs  a  la  mousquetaire,  could  only 
belong  to  Fanny's  Household  Word.  It  was  very 
odd,  —  she  had  not  a  shade  of  a  reason  for  it,  — 
but  neither  had  she  mentioned  that  rencontre  to 
her  friend.  Perhaps  tliey  had  so  many  other 
things  to  talk  about.  She  could  scan  him  now 
more  narrowly,  for  his  face  was  turned  away  from 
her.  The  result  was  satisfactory :  when  Major 
Keene  stood  up  on  his  feet,  not  even  his  habitual 
laziness  could  disguise  the  fair  proportions  and 
trained  vigor  of  a  stalwart  man-at-arms  ;  and  be 
it  known  that  Cecil's  eye,  though  not  so  profes- 
sional as  that  of  Good  Queen  Bess,  loved  to  light 
upon  such  dearly. 

"  Harry,"  Mrs.  Molyneux  observed,  ''  Mr.  Ful- 
larton  called  while  I  was  at  the  Lion  d'  Or,  this 
morning,  and  stayed  half  an  hour.  He  is  so  very 
anxious  to  get  Cecil  to  lead  the  singing  in 
church." 

"  Yes  ;  he  has  been,  so  to  speak,  throwing  his 
hat  up  ever  since  he  heard  you  were  coming,  Miss 
Tresilyan,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  suppose  he  calcu- 
lated on  your  vocal  talents  ;  there 's  the  nuisance 
of  having  an  European  reputation  ;  you  are  always 
expected  to  do  sometliing  for  somebody's  benefit. 
I  hope  you  '11  indulge  him,  in  charity  to  us.  You 
have  no  idea  wliat  it  has  been.     Two  Sundavs  ago, 


52  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

for  instance,  a  Mr.  Eolleston  and  his  wife  volun- 
teered to  give  ns  a  lead.  He  did  n't  look  like  a 
racing  man  ;  and  yet  he  must  have  been.  I  never 
saw  anything  more  artistically  done.  He  went  off 
at  score,  and  made  the  pace  so  strong,  that  he  cut 
them  all  down  in  tlie  first  two  verses ;  and  then 
the  wife,  who  had  waited  very  patiently,  came  and 
won  as  she  liked — notliing  else  near  her." 

Cecil  thought  the  illustration  rather  irreverent, 
and  did  not  smile.  Keene  saw  this  as  he  turned 
round. 

"  The  turf  slang  has  got  into  your  constitution, 
I  think,  since  you  won  that  Garrison  Cup.  It 's 
very  wrong  of  you  not  to  cure  yourself,  when  you 
know  how  it  annoys  Mrs.  Molyneux.  He  is  right, 
though,  Miss  Tresilyan  ;  it  is  a  case  of  real  dis- 
tress :  our  vocal  destitution  is  pitiable  ;  so,  if  you 
have  any  benevolence  to  spare,  do  bestow  it  upon 
us,  and  your  petitioners  will  ever  pray,  <fec." 

Now  it  so  happened  that  Fanny  valued  that  same 
Cup  above  all  her  earthly  possessions,  as  a  mark  of 
her  husband's  prowess.  No  testimonial  ever  gave 
so  much  satisfaction  to  a  popular  rector's  wife  as 
that  little  ugly  mug  afforded  her,  albeit  it  was  the 
very  wooden-spoon  of  racing  plate.  So  she  first 
smiled  consolingly  at  the  culprit,  who  was  already 
contrite,  and  then  looked  up  at  the  last  speaker 
with  amusement  and  wonder  glittering  in  her  pret- 
ty brown  eyes.  She  did  not  see  what  interest 
the  subject  could  have  for  Reene,  who  had  only 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  53 

darkened  the  chapel  doors  once  since  they  came. 
Mr.  Fiillarton,  indeed,  was  supposed  to  have  allud- 
ed to  him  several  times  — -  his  discourses  were  apt 
to  take  a  personal  and  individualizing  turn  —  but 
he  had  never  had  the  satisfaction  of  a  "  shot  in  the 
open  "  at  that  stout-hearted  sinner. 

Royston  caught  la  mignonne^s  glance,  and  un- 
derstood it  perfectly  ;  but  not  a  line  of  his  face 
moved.  He  was  waiting  for  Cecil's  reply  very 
anxiously :  he  had  not  heard  her  speak  yet. 

"  Mr.  FuUarton  is  rather  rash,"  she  said,  "  for 
our  acquaintance  is  slight,  and  I  don't  think  he 
ever  heard  me  sing.  But  I  shall  do  my  best  next 
Sunday.  Every  one  ought  to  help,  in  such  a  case, 
as  much  as  they  can." 

"  Yes,  and  you  will  do  it  so  beautifully,  dear- 
est ! "  Cecil  bit  her  lip,  and  colored  angrily. 
Nothing  annoyed  her  like  Mrs.  Danvers's  obtrusive 
partisanship  and  uncouth  flattery. 

The  gleam  of  pleasure  that  shone  out  on  Keene's 
dark  face  for  a  moment,  only  Harry  interpreted 
rightly.  He  had  scarcely  listened  to  the  words, 
but  he  thought,  ''  I  knew  I  was  right ;  I  knew  the 
voice  would  match  the  rest !  "  When  they  moved 
on  again,  he  walked  by  Miss  Tresilyan's  side,  and 
^'  still  their  speech  was  song." 

His  first  remark  was,  "  I  hope  you  condescend 
to  ballads  sometimes  ?  I  confess  to  not  deriving 
much  pleasure  from  those  elaborate  performances 
where  the  voice  tries  dangerous  feats  of  strength 

5* 


54  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

and  agility :  even  at  the  Opera  they  make  one 
rather  uncomfortable.  Some  of  the  very  scientific 
pieces  suggest  ideas  of  homicide  or  suicide,  as  the 
case  may  be,  according  to  my  temi^er  at  the  mo- 
ment. Of  course,  I  know  less  than  nothing  about 
music  ;  but  I  don't  think  this  quite  accounts  for  it. 
I  really  believe  that  unso23histicated  human  nature 
revolts  at  the  bravura.''^ 

It  was  rare  good  fortune,  so  early  in  their  ac- 
quaintance, to  tempt  forth  the  brilliant  smile  that 
always  betrayed  when  Cecil  was  well  pleased. 

''  Mrs.  Molyneux  has  told  you  what  my  tastes 
are  ?  "  she  said.  "  I  have  never  tried  bravuras 
since  I  left  oif  masters,  and  even  then  I  only  at- 
tempted them  under  protest.  But  there  are  some 
quiet  songs  I  like  so  much,  that  I  sing  them  to 
myself  when  I  am  out  of  spirits,  and  it  does  me 
good.  Don't  you  like  the  old-fashioned  ones  best  ? 
I  fancy,  in  those  days,  people  felt  more  what  they 
wrote,  and  did  not  consider  only  how  the  words 
would  suit  the  composer." 

"  Probably,"  Keene  replied.  "  If  Charles  Ed- 
Avard  was  of  no  other  use,  some  good  strong  lines 
were  written  about  him.  I  do  not  think  he  lived 
in  vain.  There  are  no  partisans  now.  The  only 
songs  of  the  sort  that  I  ever  saw  with  any  verve  in 
them  were  some  seditious  Irish  ones :  rather  spir- 
ited, —  only  they  had  not  grammar  enough  to  bal- 
last them.  The  writer  either  was,  or  wanted  to 
be,  transported.     We   are   all  very  fond   of  the 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  b5 

Giielphs,  — at  least  everybody  in  decent  society 
is,  —  and  that  is  just  the  reason  why  we  are  not 
enthusiastic.  AVe  are  all  ready  to  '  die  for  the 
Throne/  <fec.,  but  we  don't  see  any  immediate 
probability  of  our  devotion  being  tested.  So  the 
Laureate  only  rhymes  loyally,  and  he  at  stated 
seasons,  and  in  a  temperate  professional  style." 

"  Please  don't  laugh  at  Tennyson,"  she  inter- 
rupted ;  "  I  suppose  it  is  very  easy  to  do  so,  for  so 
many  people  try  it ;  but  I  never  listen  to  them  if 
I  can  help  it." 

"  A  premature  warning,"  was  the  grave  reply  ; 
"  I  had  no  such  idea.  I  admire  Tennyson  fully  as 
much  as  you  can  do,  and  read  him  I  dare  say 
much  oftener.  I  was  only  speaking  of  his  per- 
formances in  the  manege ;  indeed,  there  is  not 
enough  of  these  to  make  a  fair  illustration,  so  I 
was  wrong  to  bring  them  in.  When  he  settles  to 
liis  stride,  few  of  the  '  cracks  '  of  last  century  seem 
able  to  live  with  him.  They  have  not  set  all  his 
best  things  to  music.  A  clever  composer  might 
do  great  things,  I  fancy,  with  '  The  Sisters,'  and 
the  refrain  of '  the  wind  in  turret  and  tree.'  " 

"  It  would  never  be  a  very  general  favorite," 
Miss  Tresilyan  observed.  "  It  seems  hardly  right 
to  set  to  music  even  an  imaginary  story  of  great 
sin  and  sorrow.  I  saw  a  sketch  of  it  some  time 
ago.  The  murderess  was  sitting  on  a  cushion, 
close  to  the  Earl's  body,  with  her  head  bent  so 
low  that  one  of  her  black  tresses  almost  touched 


06  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

his  smooth  golden  curls ;  you  could  just  see  the 
hilt  of  the  dagger  under  her  left  hand.  Tliat,  and 
the  corpse's  quiet  pale  face,  were  the  only  two  ob- 
jects that  stood  out  in  relief ;  for  the  storm  outside 
was  stirring  the  window-curtains,  and  making  the 
one  lamp  flare  irregularly.  Her  features  were  in 
the  shadow,  and  you  had  to  fancy  how  hard  and 
rigid  and  dreary  they  must  be.  It  was  the  merest 
sketch ;  but  if  it  had  been  worked  out,  it  would 
have  made  a  very  terrible  picture." 

"  A  good  conception,"  Royston  said ;  "  well, 
perhaps  it  would  not  be  a  pleasant  song  to  sing ; 
but  better,  I  should  think,  than  some  of  those 
dreadful  sentimental  ones.  They  are  not  much 
worse  than  the  Strephon  and  Chloe  class,  in  which 
our  ancestors  delighted ;  still,  they  are  indefensi- 
ble. If  our  Lauras  find  Petrarchs  now,  they  are 
usually  very  beardless  ones,  and  the  green-mo- 
rocco cover,  with  its  golden  lock,  covers  their  in- 
discretions. Those  who  write  love-ditties  for  the 
piano  must  celebrate  a  shadow  who  can't  be  criti- 
cal. Imagine  any  man  insulting  a  real  woman  of 
average  intellect  with  '  AVill  you  love  me  then  as 
now ' ! " 

"  Yes,"  she  assented,  "  they  are  too  absurd,  as 
a  rule.  They  make  our  cheeks  burn,  as  if  we  were 
performing  some  very  ridiculous  part  in  low  com- 
edy ;  but  they  do  not  warm  one's  heart,  like  '  Annie 
Laurie.' " 

'  Ah,  it 's  curious  how  that  always  suggests  itself 


SWOED    AND    GOWN.  Oi 

as  the  standard  to  compare  others  with ;  not  fair, 
though,  for  it  makes  most  of  them  sound  so  feeble 
and  effeminate.  Douglas  of  Finland  wrote  it,  you 
know,  in  the  campaign  which  finished  him.  Long 
before  that,  the  charming  Annie  had  given  her 
promise  true  to  Craigdarroch ;  and  she  had  to 
keep  it,  tant  bien  que  7nal,  for  it  was  pronounced 
in  the  Tron  Church,  instead  of  on  the  braes  of 
Maxwellton.  I  wonder  if  she  inscribed  those 
verses  in  her  scrap-book  ?  I  dare  say  she  did ; 
and  sang  them  to  her  grandchildren,  in  a  cracked 
treble." 

"  I  am  so  sorry  you  have  told  me  that !  "  Cecil 
exclaimed.  ''  My  romance  was  quite  a  different 
one,  and  not  nearly  so  sad.  I  always  fancied  the 
man  who  wrote  those  lines  must  have  ended  so 
happily  !  One  would  despise  her  thoroughly,  if 
she  could  ever  have  forgiven  herself,  or  forgotten 
him." 

Her  eyes  brightened,  and  her  cheek  flushed  as 
she  spoke.  The  momentary  excitement  made  her 
look  so  handsome  that  Keene's  glance  could  not 
withhold  admiration ;  but  there  was  no  sympathy 
in  it,  any  more  than  in  his  cold  quiet  tones. 

"  No,  don't  despise  her,"  he  said.  "  She  could 
scarcely  be  expected  to  wait  for  a  corporal  in  the 
Scottish  Regiment.  When  the  Cavaliers  sailed 
from  home,  they  knew  they  were  leaving  every- 
thing but  honor  behind  them :  of  course,  their 
mistresses  went  with   the    other  luxuries.     They 


58  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

had  not  many  of  these  in  the  Brigade,  if  we  can 
believe  history.  Fortunately  for  us,  (or  we  should 
have  missed  the  song,)  Finland  never  knew  of  the 
'  fresh  fere '  who  dried  the  bright  blue  eyes  so 
soon.  He  would  not  have  carried  his  pike  so 
cheerily,  either,  if  his  eyes  had  been  good  enough 
to  see  across  the  German  Ocean.  Well,  perhaps 
the  story  is  n't  true  :  very  few  melodramatic  legends 


"  I  shall  try  not  to  believe  it :  but  I  am  afraid 
you  have  destroyed  an  illusion." 

"  You  don't  say  so  ?  "  was  the  reply.  "  I  regret 
it  extremely.  If  I  had  but  known  you  carried 
such  things  about  with  you  !  Indeed,  I  will  be 
more  careful  for  the  future.  We  are  outwalking 
the  main-guard,  I  see.  Shall  we  wait  for  them 
here  ?  It  is  a  good  point  of  view.  One  forgets 
that  there  are  two  invalids  to  be  considered." 

Did  Koyston  Keene  speak  thus  purposely,  on 
the  princij^le  of  those  practised  periodical  writers, 
who  always  leave  their  hero  in  extreme  peril,  or 
their  heroine  on  the  verge  of  a  moral  precipice,  in 
order  to  keep  our  curiosity  tense  till  the  next  num- 
ber ?  If  not,  chance  favored  him  by  producing  the 
very  effect  he  would  have  desired. 

His  companion's  fair  cheek  flushed  again ;  and 
this  time  a  little  vexation  had  something  to  say  to 
it.  It  was  incontestably  correct  to  wait  for  the 
rest  of  the  party,  but  she  would  have  preferred 
originating  the  suggestion.     Besides,  the  conver- 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  59 

sation  had  begun  to  interest  her  ;  and  she  Hked 
being  amused  too  well  not  to  be  sorry  for  its  being 
cut  short  abruptly.  She  thought  Major  Keene 
talked  epigrammatically  ;  and  the  under-current  of 
irony  that  ran  through  all  he  said  was  not  so  ob- 
trusive as  to  seriously  offend  her. 

It  was  no  light  ordeal  he  had  just  passed  through. 
First  impressions  are  not  made  on  women  of  Cecil 
Tresilyan's  class  so  easily  as  they  are  upon  guile- 
less debutantes  ;  but  they  are  far  more  important 
and  lasting.  It  is  useless  attempting  to  pass  off 
counterfeit  coin  on  those  expert  money-changers  ; 
but  they  value  the  pure  gold  all  the  more  when  it 
rings  sharp  and  true.  It  is  always  so  with  those 
who  have  once  been  Queens  of  Beauty.  A  certain 
imperial  dignity  attaches  to  them  long  after  they 
have  ceased  to  reign :  over  the  brows  that  have 
worn  worthily  the  diadem  there  still  hangs  the 
phantasm  of  a  shadowy  crown.  There  need  be 
nothing  of  repellent  haughtiness,  or,  what  is  worse, 
of  evident  condescension  ;  but,  though  they  are 
perfectly  gentle  and  good-natured,  we  risk  our 
little  sallies  and  sarcasms  with  timidity,  or  at  least 
diffidence  ;  feeling  especially  that  a  commonplace 
compliment  would  be  an  inexcusable  profanation. 
Our  sword  may  be  ready  and  keen  enough  against 
others ;  but  before  them  we  lower  its  point,  as  the 
robber  did  to  Queen  Margaret  in  the  lonely  wood. 
We  are  conscious  of  treading  on  ground  where 
stronger  and  wiser  and  better  men  have  knelt  be- 


60  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

fore  US  ;  and  own  that  the  altar  on  which  things 
so  rare  and  precious  have  been  laid  has  a  right  to 
be  fastidious  as  to  the  quality  of  incense. 

Not  the  less  did  such  glory  of  past  royalty  sur- 
round the  Tresilyan  because  she  had  abdicated, 
and  never  been  dethroned. 


CHAPTER    YI. 

TBTEHE  is  something  singularly  refreshing  in 
the  enthusiasm  that  one  pretty  and  fascinat- 
ing Tvoman  will  display  when  speaking  of  another 
higlily  gifted  as  herself — perhaps  even  more  so. 
It  seems  to  me  there  is  more  honesty  here,  and 
less  stage-trick  and  conventionality,  than  is  to  be 
found  in  most  manifestations  of  sentiment  that 
take  place  in  polite  society.  A  perfectly  plain 
and  unattractive  female  may,  of  course,  be  sin- 
cerely attached  to  her  beautiful  friend ;  but  her 
partisanship  must  be  somewhat  theoretical ;  it  has 
not  the  esprit  de  corps  which  characterizes  the 
other  class.  These  last  can  count  victories  enough 
of  their  own  to  be  able  to  sympathize  heartily 
with  the  triumphs  of  their  fellows  without  envy- 
ing or  grudging  them  one.  What  does  it  matter 
if  Rose  has  slain  her  thousands  and  Lilian  her 
tens  of  thousands  ?  It  is  always  '^  so  much  scored 
up  to  our  side." 

Would  you  like  to  assist,  invisibly,  at  one  of 
those  two-handed  "  free-and-easys,"  where  notes 
are  compared  and  confidences  exchanged,  where 
the  fair  warriors  ''shoulder  their /aw5,  and  show 

6 


62  SWORD     AND     GOWN. 

how  fields  were  won"?  Perhaps  our  vanity 
would  suffer,  though  our  curiosity  were  gratified. 
The  proverb  about  listeners  has  come  in  since  the 
time  of  Gyges,  it  is  true  ;  but  his  luck  was  excep- 
tional, and  would  not  often  follow  his  Ring. 
Campaspe  en  deshabille  is  not  invariably  kind. 
It  is  a  popular  superstition  that  men  are  apt,  at 
certain  seasons,  to  speak  rather  lightly,  if  not  su- 
perciliously, of  the  beings  whom  they  ought  to 
delight  to  honor.  If  so,  be  sure  the  medal  has  its 
reverse.  When  you  secured  that  gardenia  from 
Amy's  bouquet,  or  that  ribbon  from  Helen's  glove- 
trimming,  you  went  home  with  a  placid  sense  of 
self-gratulation,  flattering  yourself  you  had  done 
it  rather  diplomatically,  without  compromising 
your  boasted  freedom  by  word  or  sign.  Perhaps, 
two  hours  later,  you  figured  conspicuously  in  a 
train  of  shadowy  captives  adorning  the  conqueror's 
ideal  ovation.  A  change  of  color  of  which  you 
were  unconscious,  a  tremulous  pressure  of  fingers 
that  you  risked  involuntarily,  —  a  sentence  that 
was  meant  to  be  careless  and  indifferent,  but  ended 
by  being  earnest  and  imploring,  —  all  these  were 
commented  upon  in  the  select  committee,  and  esti- 
mated at  their  proper  value. 

Very  keen-sighted  are  those  soft  almond  eyes 
ambushed  behind  their  trailing  lashes,  and  from 
them  the  sternest  stoic  may  not  long  conceal  his 
wound.  The  Knight  of  Persia  never  groaned,  or 
shrank,  or  drooped   his   crest  when  the   quarrel 


SWORD     AND     GOWN.  Go 

struck  him ;  but  Amala  needed  only  to  look  down 
to  see  his  blood  red  upon  the  waters  of  the  ford. 
Some  penalty  must  attach  itself  to  unauthorized 
intruders,  even  in  thought,  upon  the  Cerealia.  I 
don't  wish  to  be  disagreeable,  or  to  suggest  un- 
pleasant  misgivings  to  the  masculine  mind,  but  — 
do  you  think  we  are  always  compassionated  as  much 
as  we  deserve  ?  I  own  to  a  horrible  suspicion  that 
our  betrayals  of  weakness  form  matter  of  exul- 
tation, and  that  our  tenderest  emotions  are  not 
unfrequently  derided. 

Clearly  this  delightful  sympathy  can  only  exist 
where  fancies,  and  ambitions,  and  interests  do  not 
clash.  They  seldom  need  do  so  :  there  is  room 
enough  for  all.  So  much  disposable  devotion  is 
abroad  in  this  world,  that  no  one  woman  can  mo- 
nopolize it.  It  is  a  tolerably  fair  handicap,  on  the 
whole  ;  and  even  the  second  horse  may  land  a  very 
satisfactory  stake.  Never  was  night  when  the 
moon  shone  so  dazzlingly  as  to  blind  us  to  the  bril- 
liancy of  "  a  star  or  two  beside."  Bothwell,  and 
Chatelet,  and  Rizzio  were  not  the  only  love-stricken 
ones  in  Holyrood.  Had  the  Queen  of  Scots  been 
thrice  as  charming,  glances,  and  sighs,  and  words 
enough  would  still  have  been  found  to  satisfy  the 
most  exacting  of  her  Maries. 

Fanny  Molyneux  was  a  capital  specimen  of  the 
thorough-paced  partisan.  She  was  terribly  indig- 
nant at  dinner  on  that  first  day  of  their  meeting, 
when  Major  Keene  would  not  indorse  all  her  rap- 


64  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

tures  about  her  favorite.  He  assented  to  every- 
thing, certainly ;  but  though  his  approbation  was 
decided  it  was  perfectly  calm.  He  intrenched 
himself  behind  his  natural  and  acquired  sang- 
froid, and  the  fair  assailant  could  not  force  those 
lines. 

"  Don't  be  unreasonable,"  Royston  said  at  last. 
"  As  Macdonough  always  says  when  he  has  lost  the 
first  two  rubbers,  '  The  night  is  young  and  drink 
is  plenty.'  Admiration  will  develop  itself  if  you 
only  give  it  time.  I  have  serious  thoughts  already 
of  adding  another  to  the  many  little  poems  that 
must  have  been  written  about  Miss  Tresilyan. 
Shall  I  send  it  to  the  United  Service  Gazette  ?  It 
would  be  a  great  credit  to  our  branch  of  the  pro- 
fession. No  dragoon  has  published  a  rhyme  since 
Lovelace,  I  believe.  I  've  got  as  far  as  the  first 
line  :  — 

"  Ah,  Cecil !  hide  those  eyes  of  blue." 

"  I  think  I  've  heard  something  very  like  that 
before,"  Fanny  answered,  laughing.  "  She  de- 
serves a  prettier  compliment  than  a  rechauffe.^^ 

"  Have  you  heard  it  before  ?  Well,  I  should  n't 
wonder.  You  don't  expect  one  to  be  original  and 
enthusiastic  at  the  same  moment,  when  both  are 
out  of  one's  line  ?  I  own  it,  though.  Your  prin- 
cess merits  all  tli6  Tassalage  she  has  found  —  bet- 
ter than  she  will  meet  with  here  —  if  only  for  the 
perfection  of  her  costume.     That  is  a  triumph. 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  65 

Honor  to  the  artist  who  built  her  hat.  I  drink  to 
him  now,  and  I  wish  the  Burgundy  were  worthier 
of  the  toast.  (Hal,  this  Gorton  does  not  improve.) 
I  should  advise  you  to  secure  the  address  of  her 
bottler.  You  know  her  well  enough  to  ask  for  it, 
perhaps  ?     It  must  be  a  secret." 

''  Then  you  have  not  found  out  how  very  clever 
she  is  ?  " 

"  Pardon  me,"  was  the  reply  ;  "I  can  imagine 
Miss  Tresilyan  perfectly  well  educated  ;  so  well, 
that  she  might  dispense  with  carrying  about  a 
living  voucher  in  the  shape  of  that  dreadful  ex-iii- 
stitutrice.  I  never  knew  what  makes  very  nice 
women  cling  so  to  very  disagreeable  governesses. 
Perhaps  there  is  a  satisfaction  in  patronizing  where 
you  have  been  ruled,  and  in  conferring  favors  where 
you  have  only  received  '  impositions '  —  a  pleasant 
consciousness  of  returning  good  for  evil.  There  is 
no  other  rational  way  of  accounting  for  it." 

La  mignoiijie  was  not  indignant  now,  as  might 
have  been  expected  ;  but  she  gazed  at  the  speaker 
long  and  more  searchingly  than  was  her  wont,  with 
something  very  like  pity  in  her  kind,  earnest  eyes. 

"  I  suppose  you  would  not  sneer  so  at  everything 
if  you  could  help  it,"  she  said.  ^' I  am  not  w^ise 
enough  to  do  so  ;  but  I  don't  envy  you." 

Royston's  hard  cold  face  changed  for  an  instant, 
and  the  faintest  flush  lingered  there,  about  as  long 
as  your  breath  would  upon  polished  steel.  It  was 
not  the  first  time  that  one  of  her  random  shafts 

6*  B 


6Q  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

had  struck  him  home.  All  the  sarcasm  had  died 
out  of  his  voice  as  he  answered  slowly  — 

"  Don't  you  envy  me  ?  You  are  right  there. 
And  you  tlihik  you  are  not  wise  enough  to  be 
cynical  ?  If  there  was  any  school  to  teach  us 
how  to  turn  our  talents  to  the  best  account,  I 
know  which  of  us  two  would  have  most  to  learn." 
When  he  spoke  again  it  was  in  his  usual  manner, 
but  upon  another  and  perfectly  indifferent  subject. 

Harry  had  taken  no  part  in  the  discussion. 
Always  languid,  towards  night  he  generally  felt 
especially  disinclined  to  any  bodily  or  mental  ex- 
ertion. At  such  times  there  was  nothing  he  liked 
so  well  as  to  lie  on  his  sofa  and  assist  at  a  passage- 
of-arms  between  his  wife  and  Keene,  encouraging 
either  party  occasionally  with  an  approving  smile, 
but  preserving  a  cautious  and  complete  neutrality. 
On  the  present  occasion  he  had  his  own  reasons 
for  not  being  disappointed  about  the  latter's  appre- 
ciation of  Miss  Tresilyan.  Had  he  felt  any  such 
misgivings,  they  would  have  vanished  later  in  the 
evening. 

The  Doctor  was  a  stern  man  ;  but  he  must  have 
been  more  than  human  to  have  stood  fast  against 
the  entreaties  and  cajolement  with  which  his  pa- 
tient backed  up  the  petition,  "to  be  allowed  just 
one  cigar  before  going  to  roost."  The  prospect  of 
this  compensating  weed  had  supported  poor  Harry 
through  the  dulncss  and  privations  of  many  monot- 
onous days.  As  the  appointed  time  drew  nigh, 
he  would  freshen  up  visibly,  just  like  the  camels 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  67 

when,  staggering  fetlock-clcep  through  the  sand- 
wastes,  they  scent  the  water  or  sight  the  chimp  of 
palms.  Was  there  more  in  all  this  than  could  be 
traced  to  the  mere  soothing  influence  of  the  nico- 
tine and  flavor  of  the  tobacco  ?  Might  not  this  one 
old  habit  still  indulged,  have  been  the  only  link 
that  sensibly  connected  the  invalid  with  those 
pleasant  days,  when  he  enjoyed  life  so  heartily, 
with  so  many  cheery  comrades  to  keep  him  in 
countenance  —  when  he  would  have  laughed  at 
the  idea  of  anything  short  of  a  sabre-cut,  a  shot- 
wound,  or  a  rattling  fall  over  an  "  oxer,"  bring- 
ing him  down  to  that  state  of  helpless  dependence, 
when  our  conception  of  womankind  resolves  itself 
into  the  ministering  angel  ?  Harry  certainly  could 
not  have  told  you  if  this  were  so  ;  for  an  inquiry 
into  the  precise  nature  of  his  sensations  would 
have  posed  him  at  any  time  quite  as  completely 
as  a  question  in  hydrostatics  or  plane  trigonom- 
etry. At  any  rate,  the  consumption  of  The 
Cigar  was  a  very  important  ceremony  with  him ; 
not  conducted  in  the  thoughtless  and  improvident 
spirit  of  men  who  smoke  a  dozen  or  so  a  day, 
but  partaking  rather  of  the  character  of  a  sacrifice, 
at  once  festal  and  solemn.  There  were  times,  as 
we  have  said  before,  when  he  would  break  out  of 
bounds  recklessly  ;  but  upon  such  occasions  he  gave 
himself  no  time  to  reflect ;  so  there  was  nothing 
then  of  calm  and  deliberate  enjoyment ;  and  these 
escapades  grew  more  and  more  rare  as  the  warnings 
of  his  constitution  spoke  more  imperiously. 


68  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

Among  tlie  very  few  traits  of  amiability  that 
Major  Keene  had  ever  displayed,  were  the  sacri- 
fices of  personal  convenience  he  would  make  for 
Harry  Molyneux.  He  had  given  up  a  good  many 
engagements,  to  see  his  comrade  through  that 
especial  hour ;  and,  if  the  day  had  left  any  avail- 
able geniality  in  him,  it  was  sure  to  come  out 
then.  Upon  this  occasion,  however,  he  was  re- 
markably silent,  and  answered  several  times  at 
random  as  if  his  thoughts  were  roving  elsewhere  : 
they  were  not  unpleasant  ones  apparently,  for  he 
smiled  twice  or  thrice  to  himself,  much  less  icily 
than  usual.  At  last  he  spoke  abruptly,  after  a  long 
pause  —  Miss  Tresilyan's  name  had  not  once  been 
mentioned  —  "  Hal,  you  know  that  old  hackneyed 
phrase,  about  '  a  woman  to  die  for  '  ?  I  think 
we  have  seen  one  to-day  who  is  worth  living  for  ; 
which  is  saying  a  good  deal  more." 

"  You  like  her,  then?  "  Molyneux  asked. 

"Yes  —  I  —  like  —  her."  The  words  came  out 
as  if  eacli  one  had  been  weighed  to  a  grain ;  and 
his  lip  j)ut  on  that  curious  smile  once  more. 

Harry  did  not  feel  quite  satisfied.  He  would 
have  preferred  hearing  more,  and  inferring  less ; 
but  acting  upon  his  invariable  rose-colored  princi- 
ple, he  would  not  admit  any  disagreeable  surmises, 
and  went  to  bed  under  the  impression  that  "  it 
was  all  right,"  and  that  Royston  was  in  a  fair  way 
towards  being  repaid  for  the  sacrifices  he  had  made 
to  friendship. 


CHAPTER    YII. 

THE  Saturday  night  is  waning,  but  Molyneux 
shows  no  signs  of  moving  yet  from  Keene's 
apartments.  He  has  been  a  model  of  prudence 
though  so  far,  as  to  his  drinks,  and,  in  good  truth, 
their  companion  is  not  amusing,  or  instructive,  or 
convivial  enough,  to  tempt  or  to  excuse  trans- 
gression. 

Dick  Tresilyan  looks  about  twenty-five,  strongly 
and  somewhat  heavily  built ;  rather  over  the  mid- 
dle height,  even  with  the  decided  stoop  of  his 
broad  round  shoulders.  He  carries  far  too  much 
flesh  to  please  a  professional  eye,  and  by  the  time 
he  is  fifty  will  be  very  unwieldy  :  but  there  is  more 
activity  in  him  than  might  be  supposed,  and  he 
walks  strongly  and  well,  as  you  would  find  if  you 
tried  to  keep  pace  with  him  through  the  turnips 
on  a  sultry  September  day.  His  face,  without  a 
pretension  to  beauty  in  itself,  suggests  it, — just 
the  face  that  makes  you  say,  "  that  man  must  have 
a  handsome  sister ;  "  indeed,  it  bears  an  absurdly 
strong  family  likeness  to  Cecil's,  amounting  to  a 
parody.  But  the  outline  of  feature  which  in  her 
is  so  fine  and  clear,  is  dull  and  filled  out  even  to 


70  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

coarseness.  It  reminded  one  of  looking  at  the 
same  landscape,  first  through  the  medium  of  a 
bright  blue  sky,  and  then  through  driving  mist, 
when  crag  and  cliff  and  wood  still  show  them- 
selves, but  blurred  and  dimly.  His  hair  and  eyes 
are,  by  several  shades,  the  lighter  of  the  two.  The 
great  difference  is  in  the  mouth.  Cecil's  is  so  del- 
icately chiselled,  so  ajDt  at  all  expressions,  from 
tender  to  provocative,  that  many  consider  it  one  of 
her  best  points ;  her  brother's  is  so  weak  and  un- 
decided in  its  character  (or  rather  want  of  char- 
acter) that  it  would  make  a  more  intellectual  face 
vacuous  and  inane. 

The  "  Tresilyan  constitution  "  holds  its  own  gal- 
lantly against  the  inroads  of  hardish  living,  and 
Dick  looks  the  picture  of  rude  health.  Men  en- 
dowed with  an  invincible  obtuseness  of  intellect 
and  feeling  have  no  mental  wear  and  tear,  and  if 
the  machine  starts  in  good  order,  it  seems  as  if  it 
might  last  out  indefinitely  ;  so  it  would,  I  dare  say, 
if  it  were  not  for  a  propensity  to  drink,  and  other- 
wise to  abuse  their  bodily  advantages,  peculiar  to 
this  class.  But  for  this  neutralizing  element  in 
their  composition  perhaps  they  would  live  as  long 
as  crows  or  elephants,  and  we  should  be  visited  by 
a  succession  of  stupid  Old  Parrs  ;  which  would  be 
a  very  dreadful  dispensation  indeed.  The  present 
subject  takes  a  good  deal  of  exercise,  to  be  sure, 
and  naturally  few  cares  have  ever  troubled  him ; 
he  has  always  had  more  money  than  he  knew  what 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  71 

to  do  with,  and  —  as  for  serious  annoyances,  a  cer- 
tain train  of  thouglit  is  necessary  to  form  them, 
while  our  poor  Dick's  brain  is  utterly  incapable  of 
holding  more  than  one  idea  at  a  time.  Whatever 
may  happen  to  be  the  dominant  thought,  reigns 
with  an  undivided  empire,  and  will  not  endure  a 
rival  even  near  its  throne,  till  it  is  violently  thrust 
out  and  annihilated  by  its  successor,  on  the  princi- 
ple of 

The  priest  tliat  slays  the  slayer, 
And  shall  himself  be  slain. 

He  never  originates  a  conception,  of  course,  but 
is  always  open  to  a  fair  offer  in  the  way  of  a  sug- 
gestion from  anybody,  and  adopts  it  w^itli  the  blind 
zeal  of  a  proselyte.  It  follows  that  chance  occur- 
rences may  bother  him  for  the  moment,  but  he  is 
saved  an  infinity  of  trouble  by  being  independent  of 
foresight  and  memory.  To  this  last  defect  there  is 
one  exception.  If  he  is  crossed,  or  vexed,  or  in- 
jured, he  cherishes  against  the  offender  a  didl, 
misty,  purposeless  sort  of  resentment,  scarcely 
amounting  to  animosity,  but  cannot  explain,  either 
to  you  or  to  himself,  luhij  he  does  so.  Fortunately 
he  is  tolerably  harmless  and  unsuspicious,  for  to 
reconcile  him  would  be  simply  impossible. 

Not  one  mesalliance  could  be  detected  in  the 
main  line  of  the  Tresilyans  ;  but  there  must  have 
been  a  blot  somewhere,  a  link  of  base  metal  in  the 
golden  chain,  of  which  an  adulteress  and  her  con- 
fessor could  have  told.     Perhaps  the  son  of  the 


72  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

transgressor  bore  no  stigma  on  his  forehead,  and 
ruffled  it  among  his  peers  as  bravely  as  the  best  of 
them,  never  witting  of  his  mother's  dishonor  ;  but 
the  stain  had  come  out  in  this  generation.  Even 
the  faults  and  vices  of  that  strong  stubborn  race 
were  curiously  distorted  and  caricatured  in  their 
representative.  His  pride,  for  instance,  chiefly  dis- 
played itself  in  a  taste  for  low  company,  where  he 
could  safely  lord  it  over  his  inferiors.  He  did  this 
whenever  he  had  a  chance,  but,  t.o  do  him  justice, 
by  no  means  in  an  ill-natured  or  bullying  way.  He 
had  resided  almost  entirely  on  his  own  estates ; 
and,  during  his  rare  visits  to  London,  had  not  ex- 
tended his  knowledge  of  the  world  beyond  the 
experience  that  may  be  picked  up  by  freqiienting 
divers  equivocal  places  of  public  resort,  and  from  oc- 
casional forays  on  the  extreme  frontier  of  the  demi- 
monde. The  result  was,  that  in  general  society  he 
felt  himself  in  a  false  position,  and  was  evidently 
anxious  to  escape  into  a  more  congenial  atmosphere. 
Can  you  guess  why  I  have  lingered  so  long  over 
a  portrait  that  might  weirhave  been  despatched  in 
three  lines  ?  It  is  because,  in  the  eyes  of  those 
who  knew  Cecil  Tresilyan,  some  interest  must 
attach  itself  to  the  basest  thing  that  bears  her 
name  ;  it  is  because  there  are  men  alive  who  think 
that  the  broidery  of  her  skirt,  or  the  trimming  of 
her  mantle,  deserve  describing  better  than  the 
shield  of  Pelides  ;  who  hold  that  one  of  her  dark 
chestnut  tresses  is  worthier  of  a  place  among  the 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  78 

stars  than  imperial  Berenice's  hair.  A  lame  ex- 
cuse, I  admit,  to  the  many  that  never  saw  her  — 
even  in* their  dreams. 

On  this  particular  evening  Dick  was  supremely 
happy.  Keeno  had  got  him  upon  shooting  —  the 
only  subject  on  which  that  unlucky  man  could  talk 
without  committing  himself;  and,  by  the  time  he 
vras  well  into  his  fourth  tumbler  of  iced  co2:nac 
and  water,  he  was  achieving  a  rare  conversational 
triumpli ;  for  he  had  left  off  answering  monosylla- 
bically,  had  volunteered  an  observation  or  two,  and 
even  ventured  to  banter  his  companions  about  their 
not  availing  themselves  sufficiently  of  the  sporting 
resources  in  the  neighborhood. 

"  There  are  several  boars  near  here,"  he  was 
saying  ;  "  they  shoot  them  sometimes,  and  you  can 
go  if  you  manage  properly.  I  wonder  you  men 
never  found  that  out." 

"  Ah,  they  did  talk  a  good  deal  about  pigs," 
Royston  remarked  indifferently.  ''  But,  you  see, 
we  used  to  stick  them  in  the  Deccan.  The  first 
time  I  heard  of  their  w'ay  of  doing  it  here,  I  felt 
very  like  Deering  when  they  asked  him  to  shoot  a 
fox  in  Scotland.  Tom  Deering,  you  know,  the  old 
boy  that  has  hunted  with  the  Warwickshire  and 
Atherstone  for  thirty  seasons,  and  could  tell  you 
the  names,  ages,  and  colors  of  the  hounds  better 
than  ho  could  those  of  his  own  small  family, — 
pedigrees  too,  I  should  n't  wonder." 

Dick  tried  to  look  as  if  he  had  known  the  man 

7 


74  SWORD     AND    GOWN. 

from  his  childhood,  and  succeeded  but  very  mode- 
rately. 

"  Well,"  the  other  went  on,  "  they  were  T)eating 
a  cover  for  roe,  and  the  gillie  suggested  a  particu- 
lar pass,  as  the  most  likely  to  get  a  shot  at  what  he 
called  a  '  tod.'  It  was  some  time  before  Tom  real- 
ized the  full  horror  of  the  proposition ;  when  he 
did,  he  shut  his  eyes  like  a  bull  that  is  going  to 
charge,  and  literally  fell  upon  the  duinhe-wassal, 
bellowing  savagely.  He  had  no  more  idea  of  using 
his  hands  than  a  fractious  baby ;  but  it  is  rather  a 
serious  thing  when  sixteen  stone  of  solid  flesh 
becomes  possessed  by  a  devil.  Robin  Oig  was 
overborne  by  the  onset,  and  did  not  forget  the 
effects  of  it  that  season." 

Tresilyan  laughed  applaudingly,  as  he  always 
did  when  he  could  understand  more  than  half  a 
story. 

"  I  suppose  it 's  pretty  good  fun  hunting  them 
out  there  ?  "  he  said,  going  off  at  score,  as  usual, 
on  the  fresh  theme. 

''  Not  bad,"  Keene  replied  ;  ''  sharp  going  while 
it  lasts,  and  a  little  knack  wanted  to  stick  them 
scientifically.  Some  say  it 's  more  exciting  than 
fox-hunting,  but  that 's  childish ;  I  never  heard  a 
man  assert  it  whose  liver  was  not  on  the  wane. 
It  is  more  dangerous,  certainly.  A  header  into  the 
Smite  or  the  Whissendine,  is  nothing  to  a  fall 
backwards  into  a  nullah,  with  a  beaten  horse  on 
the  top  of  you." 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  75 

]\rolyneux  wolvo  up  from  a  reverie.  The  familiar 
word  stirred  his  blood  like  a  trumpet,  and  it  flashed 
up  briglitly  in  his  pale  cheek  as  he  spoke.  "  Ah  ! 
we  have  had  a  brushing  gallop  or  two  in  the  gay 
old  times,  before  we  got  married,  and  invalided, 
and  all  that  sort  of  thing.  Dick,  I  should  like  to 
tell  you  how  I  got  my  first  spear." 

''  Of  course  you  would,"  the  Major  said,  re- 
signedly ;  "  it 's  my  fault  for  starting  the  subject. 
Get  over  it  quickly,  then,  please."  He  did  not 
stop  him,  though,  as  he  would  have  done  on  an- 
other occasion  — pour  cause, 

''  1  had  been  entered  some  time  at  boar,"  Harry 
began,  "  before  I  had  any  luck  at  all.  Ride  as 
hard  as  I  would  at  the  start,  the  old  hands  luould 
creep  up  at  the  finish,  just  in  time  to  get  '  first 
blood.'  I  gave  long  prices  for  my  Arabs,  too,  and 
did  n't  spare  them.  I  own  I  got  discouraged,  and 
thought  the  whole  thing  a  robbery,  a  delusion,  and 
a  snare.  One  day,  however,  we  had  a  good  deal  of 
deep  marsliy  ground  at  first,  and  a  quick  gallop 
afterwards,  whicli  served  my  light  weight  well.  I 
had  it  all  to  myself  when  he  came  to  bay ;  so  I 
went  in,  full  of  confidence,  and  gave  point,  as  I 
thouglit,  well  behind  the  shoulder-blade.  I  did 
not  calculate  on  the  pace  we  were  going,  and  I  was 
just  three  inches  too  forward.  My  horse  was  as 
young  and  hot  as  1  was  ;  and  though  he  had  no 
idea  of  flinching,  did  n't  know  how  to  take  care  of 
himself.     The  instant  the  brute  felt  the  steel  he 


Tb  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

wheeled  short  roiincl,  and  cut  The  Emperor's  fore- 
legs clean  from  under  him.  We  all  came  down  in 
a  heap  ;  my  spear  flew  yards  away ;  and  there  I 
was  on  my  face,  clear  of  my  horse,  with  my  right 
wrist  badly  sprained.  Would  you  hare  fancied  the 
position  ?  I  did  n't.  The  devil  was  too  blown  to 
begin  offensive  operations  at  once,  for  we  had  burst 
him  along  pretty  sharply ;  but  he  stood  right  over 
me,  champing  and  rasping  his  tusks,  and  getting 
his  wind  for  a  good  vicious  rip.  I  felt  his  boiling 
foam  dropping  upon  me,  as  1  lay  quite  still.  I 
thought  that  was  the  best  thing  to  do.  All  at  once 
hoofs  came  up  at  a  hard  gallop ;  something  swept 
above  me  with  a  rush ;  there  was  a  short  smoth- 
ered sound  like  a  tap  on  a  padded  door ;  and  then 
the  beast  stretched  himself  slowly  out  across  my 
legs,  and  shivered,  and  died.  That  man  opposite 
you  had  leapt  his  horse  over  us  both,  and,  while 
he  was  in  the  air,  speared  the  boar  through  the 
spinal  marrow.  If  he  had  been  struck  anywhere 
else  he  might  still  have  torn  me  badly,  before  the 
life  was  out  of  him.  Neatly  done,  was  n't  it  ?  " 
~  Harry  drank  off  the  remains  of  his  sherry  and 
seltzer  rather  excitedly,  and  then  sighed.  He  was 
thinking  how  often  in  other  days,  when  health  and 
nerves  were  to  the  fore,  he  had  drained  a  stronger 
and  deeper  draught  to  "  Snaffle,  spur,  and  spear !  " 
"  A  mere  stage-trick,"  Keene  remarked  ;  "  effec- 
tive, but  not  in  the  least  dangerous,  with  a  horse 
under  you  as  steady  as  poor  old  Mahmoud.     May 


SWORD    AND     GOWN.  77 

his  rest  bo  glorious !  Gilbert  killed  a  tiger  that 
had  got  loose  in  the  same  way,  which  ivas  some- 
thing to  talk  about,  for  even  clean-bred  Arabs  don't 
like  facing  tigers.  You  made  rather  better  time 
than  usual  over  that  story  to-night,  Hal ;  it 's  prac- 
tice, I  suppose." 

Tresilyan's  eyes  fastened  on  the  speaker,  full  of 
a  heavy  pertinacious  admiration.  You  might  have 
told  him  of  the  noblest  action  of  generosity  or  self- 
denial  that  ever  constituted  the  stock  in  trade  of  a 
Moral  hero,  and  he  would  have  listened  patiently, 
but  without  one  responsive  emotion.  Bodily  prow- 
ess and  daring  he  could  appreciate.  Keene's 
physical  prestige  was  just  the  thing  to  captivate 
his  limited  imagination ;  besides  which,  the  ground 
was  prepared  for  the  seed-time.  He  had  some 
soldier  friends ;  and  dining  with  these  at  the 
"  Swashing  Buckler,"  he  had  heard  some  of  those 
club  chronicles  in  which  the  Cool  Captain's  name 
figured  prominently. 

The  latter  interpreted  perfectly  well  the  gaze 
that  was  riveted  upon  him,  without  being  in  the 
least  flattered  by  it.  He  felt,  perhaps,  the  same 
sort  of  satisfaction  that  one  experiences  when, 
fighting  for  the  odd  trick,  the  first  card  in  our 
hand  is  a  heavy  trump.  Dick's  thorough  and 
undivided  allegiance,  once  secured,  was  a  good 
card  in  the  game  he  w^as  playing  at  the  moment. 
Whatever  his  thoughts  might  have  been,  his  face 
told  no  tales.     He  had  been  flooring  glass  for  glass 


78  SWORD    AND    GOVv^N. 

with  his  guest,  till  tlie  liquor  began  to  work  its 
way  into  the  cracks  even  of  such  a  seasoned  ves- 
sel ;  but,  for  any  outward  or  visible  sign  in  feature, 
speech,  or  manner,  he  might  have  been  assisting  at 
a  teetotaller's  soiree. 

Very  often  —  late  on  guest-nights,  or  other  tour- 
naments of  deep  drinking,  where  Trojan  and  Tyrian 
met  to  do  battle  for  the  credit  of  their  respective 
corps  —  the  calm,  rigid  face,  never  flushing  beyond 
a  clear  swarthy  brown,  and  the  cold,  bright,  inevi- 
table eyes,  liad  stricken  terror  into  the  hearts  of 
bacchanalian  Heavies,  and  given  consolation,  if  not 
confidence,  to  the  Hussars,  who  were  failing  fast : 
these  knew  that,  though  their  own  brains  might  be 
'reeling,  and  their  legs  rebelliously  independent, 
their  single  champion  was  invincible.  As  the  last 
of  the  Enomotas  went  down,  he  saw  Othryades 
standing  steadfastly,  with  never  a  trace  of  wound 
or  weakness,  still  able  and  willing  to  write  XIKH 
on  his  shield. 

When  our  poor  Dick  was  once  thoroughly  im- 
pressed, for  the  first  time,  with  awe  or  admiration, 
either  for  man  or  woman,  he  generally  fell  mto  a 
species  of  trance,  from  which  it  was  exceedingly 
difficult  to  bring  him  round.  He  would  have  sat 
there,  staring  stupidly  till  morning,  with  perfect 
satisfaction  to  himself,  if  Molyneux  had  not  at- 
tacked him  with  a  direct  question,  —  "  How  long 
do  you  think  of  staying  at  Dorade  ?  And  have 
you  made  any  plans  afterwards  ?  " 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  79 

Le  moiiton  qui  revait  roused  himself  with  an 
effort,  and  searched  the  bottom  of  his  empty  glass 
narrowly  for  a  reply.  Eventually  he  succeeded 
in  findino'  one  :  — - 

o 

''  Cecil  talks  about  two  months ;  then  we  are  to 
go  on  by  Nice,  Genoa,  Florence,  Rome,  and  Naples, 
and  so  come  back  by  —  Italy."  He  had  got  up  the 
first  names  by  rote,  and  run  them  off  glibly  enough; 
but  was  evidently  at  fault  about  the  last  one.  I 
fancy  he  had  some  vague  idea  of  Austrian  troops 
being  quartered  in  these  regions,  and  looked  upon 
Hesperia  in  the  light  of  an  obscure  state  or  moder- 
ate-sized town  somewhere  in  the  north  of  Europe. 

Harry  was  balked  in  his  inclination  to  laugh : 
the  rising  smile  was  checked  upon  his  lip,  just  in 
time,  by  a  glance  from  his  chief,  severely  author- 
itative. 

''  Italy  ?  "  the  latter  said,  without  a  muscle  mov- 
ing ;  "  well,  I  should  n't  advise  you  to  stay  long 
there.  It 's  rather  a  small  place,  and  very  stupid  ; 
no  society  whatever.  The  others  will  amuse  you, 
as  you  have  never  seen  them." 

He  rose  as  he  spoke  the  last  words.  Perhaps 
he  thought  he  had  done,  that  night,  "  enough  for 
profit  and  more  than  enough  for  glory."  The 
Cool  Captain  seldom  suffered  himself  to  be  bored 
without  an  adequate  object  very  clearly  in  view. 

"  Hal,  I  am  going  to  turn  you  out.  It  is  far  too 
late  for  you  to  be  sitting  up,  and  we  have  a  good 
deal  to  do  to-morrow." 


80  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

Molyncux  did  not  quite  comprehend  what  ex- 
traordinary labors  were  before  any  of  them,  but  he 
rose  without  making  an  objection,  and  Tresilyan 
prepared  to  accompany  him.  Dick  considered  that 
individually  he  had  been  remarkably  brilliant,  and 
left  a  favorable  impression  behind  him.  But  all 
this  newly-acquired  confidence,  and  much  strong 
drink,  were  not  sufficient  to  embolden  him  to  risk, 
as  yet,  a  tete-d-tete  with  Royston  Keene. 

Long  after  they  had  departed,  the  Major  sat 
gazing  steadfastly  at  the  logs  burning  on  the 
hearth.  If  he  had  gone  straight  to  bed,  the  enor- 
mous dulness  of  one  of  the  party  would  have 
weighed  him  down  like  a  nightmare. 

Is  there  one  of  us  who  cannot  remember  havino: 
seen  prettier  pictures  in  a  flame-colored  setting 
than  the  Royal  Academy  has  ever  shown  him? 
What  earthly  painter  could  emulate  or  imitate  the 
coquettish  caprice  of  light  and  shadow,  that  en- 
hances the  charms,  and  dissembles  all  possible 
defects  in  those  fair  fleeting  Fiamminas  ?  Some- 
thing like  this  effect  was  to  be  found  in  the  minia- 
tures that  were  in  fashion  a  dozen  years  ago ; 
where  part  only  of  a  sweet  face  and  a  dangerously 
eloquent  eye  looked  at  you  out  of  a  wreath  of 
dusky  cloud,  that  shrouded  all  the  rest  and  gave 
your  imagination  play.  Truly  it  was  not  so  ut- 
terly wrong,  the  ancient  legend  that  wedded  He- 
phaestus to  Aphrodite.  The  Minnesingers  and 
their   coevals    spoke   fairly   enough    about   Love, 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  81 

and  probably  had  studied  tbeir  subject ;  but,  rely 
upon  it,  passionate  Romance  died  in  Germany 
when  once  the  close  stoves  prevailed.  Don't  you 
envy  the  imagination  of  the  dreamer,  who  could 
trace  a  shape  of  loveliness  in  those  dreadful  glazed 
tiles  ? 

Being  rather  a  Guebre  myself,  I  once  got  enthu- 
siastic on  the  subject  in  the  company  of  an  eccen- 
tric character,  who  very  soon  made  me  repent  my 
expansiveness.  If  he  had  committed  any  atro- 
cious crime,  (he  was  a  small,  sandy-haired  crea- 
ture, and  wore  colored  spectacles,)  no  one  knew 
of  it,  and  he  never  hinted  at  its  nature  ;  but  his 
whole  ideas  seemed  tinged  with  a  vague,  gloomy 
remorse  that  made  him  a  sadder,  but  scarcely  a 
wiser  or  better  man.  Perhaps  it  was  a  mono- 
mania ;  let  us  hope  so.  On  that  occasion  he  heard 
me  out  quite  patiently ;  then  the  blue  glasses 
raised  themselves  to  the  level  of  my  eyes,  and  I 
felt  convinced  their  owner  was  staring  spectrally 
behind  them.  Considering  that  he  measured  about 
thirty-four  inches  round  the  chest,  his  voice  was 
extraordinarily  deep  and  solemn :  it  sounded  pre- 
tcrnaturally  so  as  he  said,  very  slowly,  "  There  is 
one  face  that  does  not  often  leave  me  alone  here, 
and  will  follow  me,  I  think,  when  I  go  to  my 
appointed  place  :  I  see  it  now,  as  I  shall  see  it 
throughout  all  ages,  —  always  hsj  Jlreliglit.''^ 

I  felt  A'ery  Avrotli,  for  surely  to  suggest  a  new 
and  unpleasant  train  of  ideas  is  an  infamous  abuse 


82  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

olsi  tete-d-iete.  I  told  my  friend  so;  and  as  lie 
declined  to  retract  or  apologize,  or  in  any  wise 
explain  himself,  departed  with  the  comiction  that, 
though  a  clever  man  and  an  original  thinker,  he 
was  by  no  means  an  exhilarating  or  instructive 
companion.  I  should  have  borne  him  a  grudge  to 
this  day,  but  as  I  was  walking  home,  decidedly  dis- 
consolate, (there  's  no  such  bore  as  having  a  pet 
fancy  spoiled  ;  it  is  like  having  your  favorite  hunter 
sent  home  with  two  broken  knees,)  it  suddenly  oc- 
curred to  me  that  if  the  Penitent  was  in  the  habit 
of  looking  at  the  fire  through  those  blue  barnacles, 
it  was  not  likely  there  would  be  much  rose-color 
in  his  visions.  In  great  triumph  I  retraced  my 
steps,  and  knocked  tlie  culprit  up  to  put  in  this 
"  demurrer."  I  flatter  myself  it  floored  him.  He 
did  attempt  some  lame  excuse  about  "  taking  his 
spectacles  off  at  such  times,"  but  I  refused  to  lis- 
ten to  a  word,  and  marched  out  of  the  place  with 
drums  beating  and  colors  flying,  first  exasperating 
him  by  the  assurance  of  my  complete  forgiveness. 
Since  then,  if,  sitting  alone,  lig-na  super  foco  large 
rcponens,  I  involuntarily  recur  to  that  ill-favored 
conception,  it  suffices  to  contrast  with  it  the  gro- 
tesque appearance  of  its  originator,  and  the  pale 
pliantom  evanisheth. 

I  have  no  excuse  to  offer  for  this  long  and  ego- 
tistical anecdote,  except  the  pendant  which  Maloney 
used  to  attacli  to  his  ultra-man'we  stories,  —  "  The 
point  of  it  is,  that  —  it's  strictly  true." 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

ANOTHER  and  a  much  more  reputable  Council 
of  Three  sat  that  night  in  Miss  Tresilyan's 
apartments.  Mr.  Fullarton  represented  the  male 
element  there,  and  was  in  great  force.  The  late 
accession  to  his  flock  had  decidedly  raised  his  spir- 
its :  he  knew  how  materially  it  would  strengthen 
his  hands ;  but,  independently  of  all  politic  con- 
siderations, Cecil's  grace  and  beauty  exercised  a 
powerful  influence  over  him.  Do  not  misconstrue 
this.  I  believe  a  thought  had  never  crossed  his 
mind  relating  to  any  living  woman,  that  his  own 
wife  might  not  have  known  and  approved  ;  never- 
theless was  it  true,  that  Mr.  Fullarton  liked  his 
penitents  to  be  fair  :  not  a  very  eccentric  or  unac- 
countable taste  either.  It  is  a  necessity  of  our 
nature  to  take  more  delight  in  the  welfare  and 
training  of  a  beautiful  and  refined  being,  than  in 
that  of  one  who  is  coarse  and  awkward  and  ugly. 
Even  with  the  merely  animal  creation  we  should 
experience  this  ;  and  not  above  one  divine  in  fifty 
is  more  than  human,  after  all. 

So,  gazing  on  the  fair  face  and  queenly  figure 
that  were  then  before  him,  and  feeling  a  sort  of 


84  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

vested  interest  in  their  possessor,  the  heart  of  the 
Pastor  was  merry  within  him  ;  and  he,  so  to  speak, 
caroused  over  the  profusely  sugared  tea  and  well- 
buttered  galette  with  a  decorous   and   regulated 
joviality ;    ever   as    he   drank    casting   down   the 
wreaths  of  his  florid  eloquence  at  the  feet  of  his 
entertainers.     In  any  atmosphere  whatsoever,  no 
matter  how  uncongenial,  those  garlands  were  sure 
to  bloom.     His  zeal  was   such  a  hardy  perennial 
that  the  most  chilling  reception  could  not  damage 
its  vitality.      Principle    and    intention   were  both 
all  right,  of  course,  but  they  were  clumsily  carried 
out,  and  the  whole  effect  was  to  remind  one  un- 
pleasantly of  the    Clockmaker   puffing  his  wares. 
At  the  most  unseasonable  times  and  in  the  most 
incongruous  places,  Mr.  Fullarton  always  had  an 
eye  to  business,  introducing  and  inculcating  his 
tenets  with  an  assurance  and  complacency  pecu- 
liar to  himself.     Sometimes  he  would  adopt  the 
familiarly  conversational,  sometimes   the   tlieatri- 
cally  effective  style ;  but  it  never  seemed  to  cross 
his  mind   that  either  could  appear  ridiculous  or 
grotesque.     Some  absurd  stories  were  told  of  his 
performances  in  this  line.     On  one  occasion,  they 
say  he  addressed  his  neighbor  at  dinner,  to  whom 
he  had  just  been  introduced,  abruptly  thus :  "  You 
see,  wliat  we  want  is  —  more  Faith,"  in  precisely 
the  manner  and  tone  of  a  gourmet  suggesting  that 
''  the  soup  would  be  all  the  better  for  a  little  more 
seasoning ;  "    or  of  Mr.  Chouler   asserting,  "  the 


SWORD    AND     GOWN.  85 

larmers  must  bo  protected,  sir."  On  another, 
meeting  for  the  first  time  a  very  pious  and  wealthy 
old  man,  (I  believe  a  joint-stock  bank  director,)  he 
proceeded  to  sound  him  as  to  his  "  experiences." 
The  unsuspecting  elder,  rather  flattered  by  the 
interest  taken  in  his  welfare,  and  never  dreaming 
that  such  communications  could  be  anything  but 
privileged  and  confidential,  parted  with  his  infor- 
mation pretty  freely.  Mr.  Fullarton  was  so  de- 
lighted at  what  he  heard,  that  he  turned  suddenly 
round  to  the  mixed  assembly  and  cried  out, "  Why, 
here  's  a  blessed  old  Barzillai ! "  His  face  was 
beaming,  like  that  of  an  enthusiastic  numismatist 
who  stumbles  upon  a  rare  Commodus  or  an  au- 
thentic Domitian.  There  were  several  people 
present  of  his  own  way  of  thinking  ;  but  some, 
even  among  these,  felt  very  ill  afterwards  from 
their  efforts  to  repress  their  laughter.  The  miser- 
able individual  thus  endued  with  the  "  robe  of 
honor"  would  have  infinitely  preferred  the  most 
scandalously  abusive  epithet  to  that  fervid  com- 
pliment. He  would  have  parted  with  half  his 
bank-shares  at  a  discount  (they  were  paying  about 
14  per  cent,  then  :  you  can  get  them  tolerably 
cheap  now)  to  have  been  able  to  sink  into  his 
shoes  on  the  spot ;  indeed,  these  were  almost 
large  enough  to  form  convenient  places  of  refuge. 
It  had  a  very  bad  effect  on  him :  he  never  again 
unbosomed  himself  on  any  subject  to  man,  woman, 
or  child.      Even  in  his  last  illness  —  though  he 


86  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

must  have  had  one  or  two  troublesome  things  on 
his  mind,  unless  he  had  peculiar  ideas,  as  to  the 
propriety  of  ruining  widows  and  orphans  —  he 
declined  to  commit  himself, 

But  locked  the  secret  in  his  breast, 
And  died  in  silence,  unconfessed. 

On  that  Saturday  night,  to  one  of  the  party  at 
all  events,  Mr.  Fullarton's  presence  was  very  wel- 
come. Mrs.  Danvers  was  somewhat  of  a  hard- 
drinker  in  theology,  and,  like  other  intemperate 
people,  was  not  over  particular  as  to  the  quality  of 
the  liquors  set  before  her,  provided  only  that  they 
were  hot  and  strong,  and  unstinted.  The  succu- 
lent and  highly  flavored  eloquence  to  which  she 
was  listening  suited  her  palate  exactly,  besides 
which,  the  Chaplain's  peculiar  opinions  happened 
to  coincide  perfectly  with  her  own.  As  the  even- 
ing progressed  she  got  more  and  more  exhilarated  ; 
and  at  length  could  not  forbear  intimating  "  how 
sincerely  she  valued  the  privilege  of  sitting  under 
so  eminent  a  divine." 

The  latter  made  a  scientific  little  bow,  elabo- 
rated evidently  by  long  practice,  expressive  at  once 
of  gratification  and  humility. 

"  A  privilege,  if  such  it  be,  dear  Mrs.  Danvers, 
that  some  of  my  congregation  estimate  but  very 
lightly.  You  would  hardly  believe  how  many 
members  of  my  flock  I  scarcely  know,  except  by 
name.  It  is  a  sore  temptation  to  discouragement. 
I  fear  that  Major  Keene's  pernicious  example  is 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  87 

indeed  contagions,  and  that  his  evil  commnnica- 
tions  have  corrnpted  many,  —  alas!  too  many." 
He  rounded  off  the  period  with  a  ponderous  pro- 
fessional sigh. 

Miss  Tresilyan  was  leaning  back  in  her  arm- 
chair :  as  the  wood-fire  sprang  up  brightly  and 
sank  again  suddenly,  her  great  deep  eyes  seemed 
to  flash  back  the  fitful  gleams.  It  was  long  since 
she  had  spoken.  In  truth,  she  had  been  drawing 
largely  upon  her  piety,  at  first,  to  make  herself 
feel  interested,  and,  when  this  failed,  upon  her 
courtesy,  to  appear  so ;  but  she  was  conscious  of 
relapses  more  and  more  frequent  into  the  dreary 
regions  of  Boredom.  Everybody  ivould  agree  with 
everybody  else  so  completely !  A  bold  contradic- 
tion, a  stinging  sarcasm,  or  a  caustic  retort,  would 
have  been  worth  anything  just  then  to  take  off  the 
cloying  taste  of  the  everlasting  honey.  She  roused 
herself  at  these  last  words  enough  to  ask  languidly, 
"  What  has  he  done  ?  " 

There  could  not  be  a  simpler  question,  nor  one 
put  more  carelessly  ;  but  it  was  rather  a  "  facer  " 
to  Mr.  Fullarton,  who  dealt  in  generalities  as  a 
rule,  and  objected  to  being  brought  to  book  about 
particulars,  —  considering,  indeed,  such  a  line  of 
argument  as  indicative  of  a  cavilling  and  narrow- 
minded  disposition  in  his  interlocutor. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  not  without  hesitation,  "  Major 
Keene  has  only  once  been  to  churcli ;  and,  I  be- 
lieve, has  spoken  scoffingly  since  of  the  discourse 


05  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

he  heard  delivered  there.  Yet  I  may  say  I  was 
more  than  usually  'supported'  on  that  occasion." 
The  man's  thorough  air  of  conviction  softened 
somewhat  the  absurd  effect  of  his  childish  vanity. 

Cecil  would  have  been  sorry  to  confess  how 
much  excuse  she  felt  inclined  to  admit  just  then 
for  the  sins  both  of  commission  and  omission  — 
sins,  that  at  another  time,  when  her  faculties  were 
fresh  and  her  judgment  unbiased,  she  might  have 
looked  upon  as  anything  but  venial.  Ah,  Mr.  Ful- 
larton,  the  seed  you  have  scattered  so  profusely  to- 
night is  beginning  to  bear  fruit  already  you  never 
dreamt  of.  Beet-root  and  turnips  will  not  suc- 
ceed on  every  soil.  It  must  be  long  before  a  remu- 
nerative crop  of  these  can  be  gathered  from  the 
breezy  upland  which  for  centuries,  till  the  heather 
was  burned,  has  worn  a  robe  of  uncommercial  but 
imperial  purple. 

Nevertheless,  Miss  Tresilyan  frowned  percep- 
tibly. It  looked  very  much  as  if  Keene  had  been 
amusing  himself  at  her  expense  when  he  affected 
an  interest  in  her  leading  the  choir.  Unwittingly 
to  "make  sport  for  the  men  of  Avar  in  Gath"  by 
no  means  suited  the  fancy  of  that  haughty  ladye. 

"  It  is  very  wrong  of  him  not  to  come  to 
church,"  she  observed  after  a  pause  (for  the  sin 
of  sarcasm  disapproval  was  not  so  ready,  and  she 
made  the  most  of  scanty  means  of  condemnation). 
"  Yet  I  scarcely  think  he  can  be  actively  hostile. 
You  know  he  almost  lives  with  the  Molyneuxs, 


SWORD    AND     GOWN.  89 

and  has  great  iiifluenco  with  them.  Do  they  not 
attend  regularly  ?" 

Mr.  Fullarton  admitted  that  they  did.  '^  But," 
said  he,  "  constant  intercourse  with  such  a  man 
must  ere  long  have  its  injurious  effect.  Indeed,  I 
felt  it  my  bounden  duty  to  warn  Mrs.  Molyneux 
on  the  subject.  I  grieve  to  say  she  treated  my  ad- 
monition with  a  very  unwarrantable  levity." 

Mrs.  Danvers's  sympathetic  groan  was  promptly 
at  the  service  of  the  speaker  ;  fortunately,  turning 
to  thank  her  for  it  by  a  look,  he  missed  detecting 
her  pupil's  smile.  She  could  fancy  so  well  Fanny's 
little  inoue,  combining  amusement,  vexation,  and 
impertinence,  while  undergoing  the  ecclesiastical 
censure. 

''  You  must  be  merciful  to  Mrs.  Molyneux,"  she 
remarked,  with  a  demure  gravity  that  did  her 
credit  under  the  circumstances.  ^'  She  is  my 
greatest  friend,  you  know.  When  a  wife  is  so 
very  fond  of  her  husband,  surely  there  is  some  ex- 
cuse for  her  adopting  his  prejudices  for  and  against 
people  ?" 

The  Pastor  brightened  up  suddenly  :  he  had  just 
recollected  another  fact  to  fire  off  against  the  bete 
noir. 

"  I  forgot  to  tell  you  that  Major  Keene  is  much 
addicted  to  play,  and  besides  is  intimate  with  the 
Yicomte  do  Chateaumesnil.  NoscUkt  a  sociis.^^ 
The  reverend  man  was  an  indifferent  classic ;  but 
he  had  a  way  of  flashing  scraps  out  of  grammars 

8* 


90  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

and  Analecta  Minora  before  women  and  others 
■unlikely  to  be  down  upon  him,  as  if  they  were 
quotations  from  some  recondite  author. 

^'  You  cannot  mean  that  cripple  who  is  drawn 
about  in  a  wheel-chair  ?  "  Cecil  asked.  "  We  saw 
him  to-day,  only  for  a  moment,  for  he  drew  his 
cloak  over  his  face  as  we  passed.  I  never  saw 
such  a  melancholy  wreck ;  and  I  pitied  him  so 
much  that  I  fear  he  will  haunt  me." 

Far  deeper  would  have  been  the  compassion, 
had  she  guessed  at  the  pang  that  shot  straight  to 
Armand's  heart,  as  he  veiled  his  blasted  features 
and  haggard  eyes,  feeling  bitterly  that  such  as 
he  were  not  worthy  to  look  upon  her  in  the  glory 
of  her  brilliant  beauty. 

"  A  notorious  atheist  and  profligate,"  was  the 
reply.  "  We  cannot  regard  his  sore  affliction  in 
any  other  light  than  a  judgment  —  a  manifest 
judgment,  dear  Miss  Tresilyan." 

There  was  grave  disapproval  and  just  a  shade 
of  contempt  in  the  face  of  one  of  his  hearers  as 
she  said,  "  The  hand  of  God  is  laid  so  heavily 
there,  that  man  may  surely  forbear  him."  But 
Mrs.  Danvers  struck  in  to  her  favorite's  rescue, 
rejoicing  in  an  opportunity  of  displaying  her  par- 
tisanship. 

"  A  judgment,  of  course.  It  would  be  sinful  to 
doubt  it.  Besides,  do  not  others  suffer  ?  "  (She 
cast  up  her  eyes  here  pointedly,  as  though  she 
said,  "  There  may  be  more  perfect  saints ;  but  if 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  91 

you  want  a  fair  specimen  of  the  fine  Old  English 
martyr  —  me  voiciy)  "  Cecil,  my  love,  I  wonder 
you  did  not  perceive  Major  Keene's  true  character 
at  once.  You  were  talking  to  him  a  good  deal, 
the  other  day." 

"  He  did  not  favor  me  with  any  remarkably  he- 
retical opinions,"  Miss  Tresilyan  replied  carelessly. 
"  Perhaps  they  have  been  exaggerated.  At  all 
events,  he  is  not  likely  to  do  us  much  harm.  Don't 
you  think  ive  are  safe,  Bessie  ?  Dick  does  not 
care  much  for  play;  and  his  ideas  on  religious 
subjects  are  so  very  simple,  that  it  would  be  hard 
to  unsettle  them." 

Clearly  she  thought  the  topic  was  exhausted, 
but  it  had  a  strange  fascination  for  Mr.  Fullarton. 
One  of  the  many  good-natured  people,  who  espe- 
cially abound  in  those  semi-English  continental 
towns,  had  been  kind  enough  to  quote,  or  mis- 
quote, to  him  a  remark  of  Royston's  about  that 
sermon ;  and  on  this  topic  the  Chaplain  was  very 
vulnerable.  He  would  have  forgiven  a  real  sub- 
stantial injury  far  sooner  than  a  depreciation  of 
his  discourses. 

Was  he  one  whit  weaker  or  more  susceptible 
than  his  fellows  ?  I  think  not.  All  the  pliiloso- 
phy  on  earth  will  not  teach  us  to  endure  without 
wincing  a  mosquito's  bite.  The  hardiest  hero 
bears  about  him  one  spot  where  an  ivy-leaf  cling- 
ing intercepted  the  petrifying  water — a  tiny  out- 
of-the-way  spot,  not  very  near  the  head  or  heart. 


92  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

but  palpable  enough  to  be  stricken  by  Paris's  arrow 
or  Hagen's  spear.  Cassar  is  very  sensitive  about 
that  bald  crown  of  his,  and  fears  lest  even  the 
laurel-wreath  should  cover  it  but  meagrely.  Many 
wars,  since  that  which  brought  Ilium  to  the  dust, 
miglit  have  been  traced  to  slighted  vanity ;  and 
many  excellent  Christians  haA-e  waxed  quite  as 
wroth  as  the  Queen  of  heathenish  heaven  about 
the  spretce  injuria  formce.  (Do  you  think  this  is 
a  peculiarly  feminine  failing  ?  I  have  seen  a  First- 
Class  man  and  Ireland  Scholar  look  massacres  at 
the  child  of  his  bosom  friend,  when  the  uncon- 
scious innocent  made  disagreeable  remarks  on  his 
personal  appearance,  alluding  particularly  to  the 
shape  of  his  nose,  which  was  7iot  Phidian.  He 
has  since  been  heard  to  speak  of  that  terrible  deed 
in  Bcthleliem,  as  a  painful  but  justifiable  measure 
of  political  expediency ;  and  is  inclined,  on  many 
grounds,  to  excuse  and  sympathize  with  the  stern 
Idumean.)  The  insult  offered  to  the  ambassador 
in  Tarentum  was  only  the  outbreak  of  a  single 
drunkard's  brutality ;  but  all  the  wealth  of  the 
fair  city  of  Phalanthus  did  not  suffice  to  pay  the 
account  for  washing  the  soiled  robe  white  again  ; 
and  blood  enough  ran  down  her  streets  to  have 
quenched  some  blazing  temples,  before  the  Ro- 
mans would  give  her  a  receipt  in  full. 

Arguing  from  these  data^  we  may  conclude  that 
Mr.  Fullarton  was  laboring  under  a  slight  delusion 
in  believing  (which  he  did  sincerely)  that  only  a 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  93 

pure  and  disinterested  zeal  for  the  welfare  of  his 
flock  impelled  him  to  say,  —  ''I  shall  make  it  my 
business  to  inquire  more  fully  into  Major  Keene's 
antecedents.  I  am  convinced  there  is  something 
discreditable  in  the  background,  and  it  may  be 
well  to  be  armed  with  proofs  in  case  of  need." 

Though  he  may  have  deceived  himself  com- 
pletely as  to  the  nature  of  the  spirit  that  possessed 
him,  Cecil  Tresilyan  was  more  clear-sighted.  She 
had  not  failed  to  remark  a  certain  vicious  twinkle 
in  the  speaker's  eye  and  a  deeper  flush  on  his 
ruddy  countenance,  betokening  rather  a  mundane 
resentment.     Her  lip  began  to  curl. 

"  How  very  disagreeable  some  of  your  duties 
must  be  !  No  doubt  you  interpret  them  correctly  ; 
but  in  this  case  perhaps  it  would  be  well  to  be 
quite  sure  before  acting  on  the  offensive.  If  I 
Avere  a  man  —  even  a  clergyman  —  I  don't  think  I 
should  like  to  have  Major  Keene  for  my  declared 
enemy." 

The  text  with  which  the  Chaplain  enforced  his 
reply  —  expressive  of  a  determination  to  keep  his 
own  line  at  all  hazards,  strong  in  the  rectitude  of 
his  cause — had  better  not  be  quoted  here,  espe- 
cially as  it  was  not  apposite  enough  to  "  lay  "  the 
contradictory  spirit  that  was  alive  in  his  fair 
opponent.  (How  very  angry  Cecil  would  have 
been,  if  she  had  been  told,  ten  minutes  ago,  that 
such  an  expression  would  apply  to  her  I)  Tlie 
temptation  to  answer  sharply  was  so  powerful,  that 
she  took  refuge  in  distant  coldness. 


94  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

"  You  quite  misunderstand  me,  Mr.  Fullarton. 
I  never  dreamt  of  offering  advice;  it  would  have 
been  excessively  j)resumptuous  in  me,  especially  as 
I  have  not  the  faintest  interest  in  the  subject  we 
have  been  talking  about.  Need  we  discuss  it  any 
longer  ?  I  think  Major  Keene  has  been  too  highly 
honored  already." 

That  weary  look  was  so  manifest  noAV  on  the 
beautiful  face  that  even  the  Chaplain,  albeit  tena- 
cious of  his  position  as  a  sea-anemone,  felt  that, 
for  once,  he  had  overstayed  his  time  and  was  peril- 
ling his  popularity.  So,  after  an  expansive  benedic- 
tion, and  an  entreaty  that  they  would  be  early  at 
church  on  the  morrow,  ho  went  "  to  his  own 
place." 

With  a  sigh  of  admiration  —  '^  What  an  excel- 
lent man,  and  how  well  he  talks  !  "  said  Bessie 
Dan  vers. 

With  a  sigh  of  relief —  "  He  talks  a  great  deal, 
and  it  is  very  late,"  said  Cecil  Tresilyan. 


F 


CHAPTER    IX. 

ROM  his  "  coign  of  vantage  "  in  the  reading- 
desk,  the  next  morning,  Mr.  Fullarton  sur- 
veyed a  crowded  congregation,  serenely  complacent 
and  hopeful,  as  a  farmer  in  August  looking  down 
from  the  hill-side  on  golden  billows  of  waving  grain. 
Visitors  had  been  pouring  in  rather  fast  during 
the  week  ;  and  there  was  a  vague  general  impres- 
sion, which  no  individual  would  have  owned,  that 
they  were  to  hear  something  unusually  good.  For 
once  expectation  was  not  to  be  disappointed  —  a 
remarkable  fact,  when  one  considers  how  much 
dissatisfaction  is  created,  as  a  rule,  in  the  popular 
mind,  by  the  shortcomings  of  eclipses,  processions, 
Yesuvian  eruptions,  new  operas,  and  other  adver- 
tised attractions,  natural  and  artificial.  The  sing- 
ing was  really  a  success.  Miss  Tresilyan's  mag- 
nificent voice  did  its  duty  nobly,  and  did  no  more. 
Without  overpowering  or  singling  itself  out  from 
the  others,  it  lured  them  on  to  follow  where  they 
could  never  have  gone  alone  :  the  choir  was  kept 
in  perfect  order  without  even  knovfing  that  it  was 
disciplined. 

There  v/as  an  elderly  Englishman  who  liad  re- 


9(3  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

sided  at  Dorade  ever  since  he  had  a  slight  differ- 
ence of  opinion  with  the  Bankruptcy  Court  a 
quarter  of  a  century  back.  Drifting  helplessly  and 
aimlessly  about  Europe  in  search  of  employment, 
he  had  taken  root  where  he  came  ashore,  and  veg- 
etated, as  floating  weeds  will  do.  He  picked  up 
ratlier  a  precarious  livelihood  by  acting  as  a  species 
of  factotum  to  his  countrymen  in  the  season,  minis- 
tering, not  injudiciously,  to  their  myriad  whims 
and  necessities.  Amongst  his  multifarious  func- 
tions, perhaps  the  most  respectable  and  permanent 
was  that  of  clerk  to  the  English  Chapel.  He  was 
by  no  means  a  very  religious  man,  nor  were  his 
morals  quite  unexceptionable  ;  but  he  had  com- 
pletely identified  himself  with  the  fortunes  and  in- 
terests of  that  modest  building.  A  sneer  at  its 
capabilities  or  a  doubt  as  to  its  prospects  would 
exasperate  him  at  any  time  far  more  than  a  direct 
insult  to  himself  (to  be  sure,  there  was  little  self- 
respect  left  to  be  offended).  When  disguised  in 
drink,  which  was  the  case  tolerably  often,  he  gen- 
erally proposed  to  settle  tTie  question  by  the  ordeal 
of  battle,  and  was  only  to  be  appeased  by  an 
apology  or  a  great  deal  more  liquor. 

On  this  occasion  the  success  and  the  singing 
combined  —  for  excess  and  hardship  had  not  quite 
deadened  a  good  ear  for  music  —  moved  the  old 
castaway  strangely.  His  thoughts  wandered  back 
to  the  misused  days  when  he  had  friends  and  a 
position  and  character  ;  when  he  was  a  household- 


SWORD     AND     GOWN.  97 

er  and  yestryman,  and  even  dreamt  ambitiously  of 
a  churchwardenship.  He  could  see  distinctly  his 
own  pew,  with  the  gray  worm-eaten  panels,  where 
he  had  sat  many  and  many  a  warm  afternoon,  re- 
sisting sternly,  as  became  a  man  of  mark  in  the 
parish,  treacherous  inclinations  to  slumber.  He 
saw  the  ponderous  brown  gallery  —  eyesore  to  ar- 
chaeologists —  which  held  the  village  choir  :  there 
they  were,  with  the  sun  streaming  in  on  their 
heads  through  the  western  window,  till  even  the 
faded  red  cushion  in  front  deepened  into  rich  crim- 
son, chanting  their  quaint  old  anthems  with  right 
good  courage,  though  every  one  got  lost  in  the 
second  line,  and  after  much  independent  exertion 
of  the  lungs,  just  came  up  in  time  to  join  in  the 
grand  final  rally.  He  saw  the  mild-faced,  gray- 
haired  parson  mounting  slowly  the  pulpit-stairs, 
adjusting  and  manoeuvring  the  refractory  gown 
that  would  come  off  his  shoulders  with  the  nervous 
gesture  which,  beginning  in  timidity,  had  grown 
into  a  habit  that  was  part  of  the  man.  More 
plainly  than  all  —  he  saw  a  low  green  mound  just 
beyond  the  chancel  walls,  where  One  was  sleeping 
who  had  lavished  on  him  all  the  treasures  of  a  rare 
imselfish  trusting  love ;  the  dear  meek  little  wife, 
who  was  so  proud  of  her  husband's  few  poor  tal- 
ents, so  indulgent  to  his  many  failings,  who  ever  had 
an  excuse  ready  to  answer  his  self-reproaches,  whose 
weak,  thin  hand  was  always  strong  enough  to  pluck 
him  back  from  ruin  and  dishonor,  till  it  grew  stiff 

9  G 


98  SWOED    AND    GOWN. 

and  cold.  She  knew  it,  too,  for  he  remembered 
the  wail  that  burst  from  her  lips  when  she  thought 
she  was  alone,  the  night  before  she  died  —  "Ah, 
wlio  will  save  him  now  that  I  am  gone  ? "  How 
miserable  and  lonely  he  was  long  after  they  buried 
her  !  How  incessantly  he  used  to  repeat  those  last 
words,  meant  to  be  comforting,  that  she  spoke,  with 
her  arm  wound  round  his  neck  —  "Darling,  you 
have  been  so  very,  very  kind  to  me  I  "  So  it  went 
on,  till  the  devil  of  drink,  choosing  his  time  cun- 
ningly, entered  into  him  and  battled  with  and 
drove  out  the  angel.  A  strange  resurrection ! 
Memories  that  had  died  years  ago,  withering  from 
very  shame,  began  to  curl  and  twine  themselves 
round  the  hard  battered  heart  as  tenderly  as  ever. 
These  pictures  of  the  past  were  still  vivid  and  clear, 
when  he  became  aware  of  a  dimness  in  his  eyes 
that  blinded  them  to  all  real  surrounding  ob- 
jects ;  he  felt  so  surprised  that  it  broke  the  spell : 
tears  had  almost  forgotten  the  way  to  his  eyes. 

Not  very  probable,  is  it,  that  a  prosaic  elderly 
clerk  should  dream  all  this  during  the  three  last 
verses  of  a  hymn  ?  Well,  the  steadiest  imagina- 
tion is  apt  to  disregard  sometimes  the  proprieties 
of  place  ;  and  as  for  space  —  of  course  the  visions 
of  the  night  are  quicker  on  the  wing  than  their 
rivals  of  the  day  ;  yet  there  must  be  some  analogy, 
and,  they  say,  we  pass  through  the  vicissitudes  of 
half  a  lifetime  in  the  few  seconds  before  we  wake. 

Cecil  was  really  pleased  with  the  result  of  the 


SWORD     AND     GOWN.  99 

singing.  She  would  have  been  even  more  so  had 
it  not  been  for  the  marked  expression  of  approval 
on  the  face  of  Royston  Keene.  It  was  evident  she 
had  been  on  her  trial.  The  cool,  tranquil,  appre- 
ciative smile  was  very  provoking.  It  made  her 
feel  for  the  moment  like  a  prima  donna  on  her  first 
appearance  at  a  new  theatre. 

Unusually  eloquent  and  verbose  was  the  sermon 
that  day,  for  not  only  was  the  preacher  aware  that 
bright  eyes  looked  upon  his  deeds,  but  he  saw  his 
enemies  in  the  front  of  the  battle.  Surely  all  ex- 
temporaneous speakers,  in  court,  pulpit,  or  senate, 
must  be  accessible  to  such  external  influences.  It 
ought  not  to  be  so,  of  course,  but  I  fancy  it  is. 
Would  John  Knox  have  been  so  fiery  in  denuncia- 
tion if  those  wicked  maids  of  honor  had  not  de- 
rided him  ?  I  doubt  if  a  discourse  delivered  in  an 
Union  would  ever  soar  to  sublimity,  even  if  the 
excellent  paupers  could  be  supposed  to  understand 
it.  So,  with  every  sentence  more  plaintive  grew 
Mr.  Fullarton's  lamentations  over  worldlings  and 
their  vanities,  more  bitter  his  invectives  against 
those  who,  having  themselves  broken  out  of  the 
fold,  seek  to  lead  others  astray.  An  occasional 
gesture  —  something  too  expressive — was  not  need- 
ed to  point  his  animadversions.  The  object  of 
them  sat,  with  his  head  slightly  bent,  neither  by 
frown  nor  smile  betraying  that  a  single  allusion 
had  gone  home.  The  simple  truth  was,  that  he 
scarcely  caught  one  word.     The  last  cadence  of 


100  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

sweeter  tones  was  still  lingering  in  his  ears,  and 
had  locked  them  fast  against  all  other  sounds. 
The  energetic  divine  might  have  poured  out  upon 
his  guilty  head  yet  stormier  vials,  and  he  would 
never  have  heard  one  roll  of  the  thunder.  How- 
ever, the  dearest  friends  must  part,  and  all  orations 
must  come  to  an  end,  except  those  of  the  much 
desiderated  Chisholm  Anstey,  of  whom  an  old-world 
Parliament  was  not  worthy  ;  so,  after  "  a  burst  of 
forty-five  minutes  without  a  check,"  the  Chaplain 
dismissed  his  beloved  hearers  to  their  digestion. 

The  stream,  as  it  flowed  out,  divided,  and  broke 
up  into  small  pools  of  conversation.  Miss  Tresilyan 
and  her  chaperone  joined  the  Molyneux  party,  just 
as  Fanny  was  saying  to  Keene  that  "  she  hoped  he 
would  profit  by  much  in  the  sermon  that  was 
evidently  meant  for  him." 

"  Was  he  personal  ?  "  the  latter  asked,  so  in- 
differently !—'' I  didn't  notice  it.  Well,  I  sup- 
pose it  amuses  him,  and  it  certainly  does  not  hurt 
me."  (Mrs.  Danvers  sniffed  indignantly — ■  a  form 
of  protest  to  which  her  nose,  from  its  construction, 
was  eminently  adapted;  but  he  went  on  before 
she  could  speak)  —  "  Miss  Tresilyan,  will  you  allow 
perhaps  the  unworthiest  member  of  the  congrega- 
tion to  express  an  opinion  that  the  singing  went  off 
superbly  ?  " 

Her  beautiful  eyes  glittered  somewhat  disdain- 
fully. "  Thank  you,  you  are  very  good.  But  I 
think  you  have  hardly  a  right  to  be  critical.     I 


SWORD     AND     CCWX*.  ^'       '    ■'     '     'lOl'" 

should  like  to  have  some  one's  opinion  who  is 
really  interested  in  the  chapel.  It  was  scarcely 
worth  taking  so  much  trouble  to  appear  so,  the 
other  day.  You  know  what  Liston  said  about  the 
penny  ?  — '  It  is  not  the  value  of  the  thing,  but  one 
hates  to  be  imposed  upon.'  Delusions  are  not  so 
agreeable  as  illusions.  Major  Keene." 

Royston  was  very  much  pleased.  He  liked 
above  all  things  to  see  a  woman  stand  up  to  him 
defiantly  ;  indeed,  if  they  were  worth  "  setting  to 
with,"  he  always  tried  to  get  them  to  spar  as  soon 
as  possible,  to  find  out  if  they  had  any  idea  of  hit- 
ting straight.  He  did  not  betray  his  satisfaction, 
though,  as  he  answered  quite  calmly,  "  Pardon 
me,  I  could  not  be  so  impertinent  as  to  attempt  a 
'  delusion '  on  so  short  an  acquaintance.  I  deny 
the  charge  distinctly.  I  believe  that  residence  in 
Dorade,  and  a  certain  amount  of  subscription,  con- 
stitute a  member  of  Mr.  FuUarton's  congregation, 
and  give  one  a  franchise.  He  has  not  thought  fit 
to  excommunicate  me  publicly,  as  yet.  I  really 
was  interested  in  the  subject,  for  I  fully  meant  to 
go  to  church  this  morning,  and  I  mean  to  go 
again." 

Insensibly  they  had  walked  on  in  advance  of 
the  others.  She  shook  her  head  with  a  saucy  in- 
credulity, —  "I  am  no  believer  in  sudden  conver- 
sions." 

"  Nor  I ;  I  was  not  speaking  of  such  ;  but  I  am 
very  fond  of  good  singing,  and  I  would  go  any- 

9* 


162  SvYORB     AND    GOWN. 

where  to  hear  it.  Did  our  chaplain  include  hy- 
pocrisy among  my  other  disqualifications  for  decent 
society,  last  night  ?  I  understand  he  is  good 
enough  to  furnish  a  catalogue  of  them  to  all  new- 
comers." 

Cecil  certainly  had  not  abused  him  then ;  so 
there  was  not  the  slightest  necessity  for  her  look- 
ing guilty  and  conscious,  both  of  which  she  felt 
she  was  doing  as  she  replied,  "  I  am  sure  Mr. 
Fullarton  would  not  asperse  any  one's  character 
knowingly.  He  could  only  speak  from  a  sense  of 
duty,  perhaps  not  a  pleasant  one." 

"  Quite  so,"  said  Eoyston  ;  "  I  don't  quarrel 
with  him  for  any  fair  professional  move.  If  he 
thinks  it  necessary  or  expedient  to  jDrejudice  in- 
different people  against  me,  he  is  clearly  right  to 
do  so.  Ah,  I  see,  you  think  I  dislike  him.  I 
don't,  indeed.  Morally  and  physically,  he  seems 
a  little  too  unctuous,  that 's  all.  Capital  clergy- 
man for  a  cold  climate  !  Fancy  how  useful  he 
would  be  in  an  Arctic  expedition.  They  might 
save  his  salary  in  Arnott's  stoves  :  I  'm  certain  he 
radiates.''^ 

Miss  Tresilyan  knew  that  it  was  wrong  to  smile. 
But  she  had  an  unfortunately  quick  perception  of 
the  ridiculous,  and  the  struggles  of  principle  against 
a  sense  of  humor  were  not  always  successful.  She 
would  not  give  up  her  point,  though.  "  I  cannot 
think  that  you  judge  him  fairly,"  she  persisted. 

"  Perhaps  not ;  but  there  is  a  large  class  who 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  103 

would  scarcely  be  much  moved  by  stronger  and 
abler  words  than,  I  suppose,  we  heard  to-day,  — 
spoken  as  they  were  spoken.  These  preachers 
won't  study  the  fitness  of  thmgs  ;  that 's  the  worst 
of  it.  I  have  known  a  garrison  chaplain  deliver  a 
discourse  that,  I  am  convinced,  was  composed  for 
a  visitation.  It  seems  absurd  to  hear  a  man  warn- 
ing us  against  a  particular  sin,  and  threatening  us 
with  all  sorts  of  penalties  if  we  indulge  in  it,  when 
it  is  impossible  that  he  himself  should  ever  have 
felt  the  temptation.  We  want  some  one  who  can 
find  out  the  harmless  side  of  our  character,  as  well 
as  the  diseased  part,  and  work  upon  it.  Such  a 
person  may  be  as  strict  and  harsh  as  he  pleases, 
but  he  is  listened  to."  He  paused  for  a  moment, 
and  went  on  in  a  graver  tone  :  "I  thmk  it  might 
have  done  even  7ne  some  good,  when  I  was  younger, 
to  have  talked  for  half  an  hour  with  the  man  who 
wrote  '  How  Amy  as  threw  his  sword  away.'  " 

Cecil  could  not  disagree  with  him  now,  nor  did 
she  wish  to  do  so.  She  liked  those  last  words  of 
his  better  than  any  he  had  spoken.  Remember, 
she  was  born  and  bred  in  the  honest  west  country, 
where  one,  at  least,  of  their  own  prophets  hath 
honor.  If  you  want  to  indulge  your  enthusiasm 
for  the  Rector  of  Eversley,  let  your  next  walking 
tour  turn  thitherwards ;  for  on  all  the  seaboard 
from  Portsmouth  to  Penzance,  there  is  never  a 
woman  —  maid,  wife,  or  widow  —  that  will  say 
you  nay. 


104  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

Keene  saw  his  advantage,  but  was  far  too  wise 
to  follow  it  up  then.  The  weaker  sex,  as  a  rule, 
are  acute  but  not  very  close  reasoners :  they  mix 
up  their  majors  and  minors  with  a  charming  reck- 
lessness ;  and,  if  innocent  of  nothing  else,  are  gen- 
erally guiltless  of  a  syllogism.  It  follows  that,  in 
the  course  of  an  argument,  it  is  easy  enough  to 
entangle  them  in  their  talk.  When  such  a  chance 
occurs,  don't  come  down  upon  your  pretty  antago- 
nists with,  "  I  thought  you  said  so  and  so,"  but 
be  politic  as  well  as  generous,  and  pass  it  by. 
They  will  do  more  justice  to  your  self-denial  than 
they  would  have  done  to  your  dialectic  talents. 
Corinna  loves  to  be  contradicted,  but  hates  to  be 
convinced,  and  dreads  no  monster  so  much  as  a 
short-horned — dilemma.  She  may  forgive  the  first 
offence  as  inadvertent,  but  '^  one  more  such  victory 
and  you  are  lost."  Think  how  often  clemency  has 
succeeded  where  severity  would  have  failed.  What 
did  that  discreet  Eastern  emir,  when  he  found  his 
fair  young  wife  sleeping  in  the  garden,  where  she 
had  no  earthly  business  to  be  ?  He  laid  his  drawn 
sabre  softly  across  her  neck,  and  retired  without 
breaking  her  slumbers.  The  cold  blade  was  the 
first  thing  Zuleika  felt  when  she  woke  ;  I  cannot 
guess  what  her  sensations  were ;  but  when  she 
gave  the  weapon  back  to  her  solemn  lord,  she 
pressed  her  rosy  lips  thrice  on  the  blue  steel,  and 
made  a  vow  that  she  most  probably  kept ;  and 
Hussein   Bey  never  was   happier   than  when   he 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  105 

drew  her  back  to  his  broad  breast,  looking  into  her 
face  silently  with  his  calm,  grave  smile. 

I  fancy  our  sisters  enter  into  an  argument  with 
more  simple  good  faith  and  eagerness  than  we  are 
wont  to  indulge  in  ;  so  that  it  is  probably  easier 
to  tease  and  exasperate  them,  which  is  amusing 
enough  while  it  lasts.  But  no  doubt  it  hurts  them 
sometimes  more  than  we  are  aware  of;  and,  after 
all,  breaking  a  butterfly  on  the  wheel  is  poor  pas- 
time, and  not  a  very  athletic  sport.  The  glory, 
too,  to  be  won  is  so  small,  that  it  scarcely  compen- 
sates for  the  pain  we  inflict,  and  may,  perchance, 
eventually /e^?/.  Is  Achilles  inclined  to  be  proud 
of  the  strength  of  his  arm,  or  the  keenness  of  his 
falchion,  as  he  grovels  in  the  dust  at  the  slain 
Amazon's  side  ?  Nay,  he  would  give  half  his  lau- 
rels to  be  able  to  close  that  awful  gaping  wound, — 
to  see  the  proud  lips  soften  for  a  moment  from 
their  immutable  scorn,  —  to  detect  the  faintest 
tremor  in  the  long  white  limbs  that  never  will 
stir  again. 

The  solemnity  of  these  illustrations,  in  which 
battles,  murders,  and  sudden  deaths  are  mingled, 
will  prove  that  I  regard  the  subject  as  by  no  means 
trivial,  but  am  sincerely  anxioiis  to  warn  my  com- 
rades against  yielding  to  a  temptation  which  assails 
us  daily. 

On  these  principles  the  Cool  Captain  acted,  then. 
His  gay  laugh  opened  a  bridge  to  the  retreating 
enemy  as  he  said,  "  How  my  poor  character  must 


106  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

have  been  worried  last  night !  I  wish  Mrs.  Moly- 
neux  had  been  there.  She  is  good  enough  to 
stand  np  for  her  old  friend  sometimes.  I  could 
hardly  expect  you  to  take  so  much  trouble  for  a 
very  recent  acquaintance." 

"  Of  course  not,"  replied  Cecil.  '^  I  was  not  in 
a  position  to  contradict  anything,  even  if  I  had 
Avished  to  do  so.  But,  I  remember,  I  thought  I 
would  speak  to  you  about  my  brother.  You  know 
enough  of  him  already  to  guess  why  I  am  nervous 
about  him.  I  almost  forced  him  to  take  me 
abroad ;  and  he  is  exposed  to  so  many  more  dan- 
gers here  than  at  home.  Please,  don't  encourage 
him  to  play,  or  tempt  him  into  anything  wrong. 
Indeed,  I  don't  mean  to  speak  harshly  or  imcour- 
teously,  so  you  need  not  be  angry." 

She  raised  her  eyes  to  her  companion's  with  a 
pretty  pleading.  He  met  them  fairly.  "Whatever 
his  intentions  might  be,  no  one  could  say  that  the 
Major  ever  shrank  from  looking  friend  or  foe  in 
the  face. 

"  I  am  sorry  that  you  should  think  the  warning 
necessary.  Supposing  that  it  were  so  —  on  my 
honor,  he  is  safe  from  me.  I  should  like  to  alter 
your  opinion  of  me,  if  it  were  possible.  Will  you 
give  me  a  chance  ?  "  The  others  joined  them  be- 
fore she  coidd  reply  ;  but  more  than  once  that  day 
Cecil  wondered  whether,  even  during  their  short 
acquaintance,  she  had  not  sometimes  dealt  scanty 
justice  to  Royston  Keene. 


CHAPTER    X. 

THERE  is  a  pleasant  tlieoiy  —  That  every  "Io- 
nian may  be  loved,  once  at  least  in  her  life, 
if  she  so  ^ills  it.  It  must  be  true :  ho^,  other- 
wise, can  you  account  for  the  number  of  hard- 
featured  visages  —  lighted  up  by  no  redeeming  ray 
of  intellect  —  that  preside  at  "  good  men's  feasts," 
and  confront  them  at  their  firesides  ?  How  do  the 
husbands  manage  ?  Do  they,  from  constantly  con- 
templating an  inferior  type  of  creation,  lose  their 
comparing  and  discriminating  powers  ;  so  that,  like 
the  Australian  and  Pacific  aborigines,  they  come 
to  regard  as  points  of  beauty  peculiarities  that  a 
more  advanced  civilization  shrinks  from?  Or  do 
their  visual  organs  actually  become  impaired,  like 
those  of  captives,  who  can  see  clearly  only  in  their 
own  dungeon's  twilight,  and  flinch  before  the  full 
glare  of  day  ?  If  neither  of  these  is  the  case,  they 
must  sometimes  sympathize  with  that  dreary  di- 
lemma of  Bias,  which  the  adust  Aldricli  quotes  in 
grim  irony  —  El  iJbkv  KaXrjv,  efei?  kolvtjv,  el  S' 
alaxpav,  irolv-qv.  (Whether  of  the  two  horns  im- 
paled the  sage  of  Priene  ?)  Some,  of  course,  are 
fully  alive  to  the  outward  defects  of  their  partners  ; 


108  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

but  few  are  so  candid  as  the  old  Berkshire  squire, 
who,  looking  after  his  spouse  as  she  left  the  room, 
said  pensively,  —  "  Excellent  creature,  that !  I  've 
liked  her  better  every  day  for  twenty  years,  but 
I  've  always  thought  she 's  the  plainest-headed 
woman  in  England  !  "  Fewer  still  would  wish  to 
emulate  the  sturdy  plain-speaking  of  the  "  gude- 
man"  in  the  Scottish  ballad,  who,  when  his  witch- 
wife  boasted  how  she  bloomed  into  beauty  after 
drinking  the  "  wild-flower  wine,"  replied  undaunt- 
edly— 

"  Ye  lee,  ye  lee,  ye  ill  woniyn, 
Sae  loud  I  hear  ye  lee  ; 
The  ill-faured'st  wife  i'  the  kingdom  of  Fife, 
Is  comely  compared  wi'  thee." 

He  could  stand  all  the  other  Inarvels  of  the  Sab- 
bat ;  but  that  was  too  much  for  his  credulity. 

No  doubt  many  of  these  Ugly  Princesses  are  en- 
dowed with  excellent  sterling  qualities.  The  old 
Border  legend  says,  there  never  was  a  happier 
match  than  that  of  "  Muckle-mou'ed  Meg,"  though 
her  husband  married  her  reluctantly,  with  a  halter 
tightening  round  his  neck.  But  such  advantages 
lie  below  the  surface,  and  take  some  time  in  being 
appreciated.  The  first  process  of  captivation  is 
what  I  don't  understand;  unless,  indeed,  there 
are  sparkles  in  the  quartz,  invisible  to  common 
eyes,  that  tell  the  experienced  gold-seeker  of  a 
rich  vein  near. 

Well,  we  will  allow  the  proposition  with  which 
we  started  ;  but  do  you  suppose  its  converse  would 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  109 

hold  equally  good  —  That  every  woman  could  love 
once,  if  she  wished  it  ?  Nine  out  of  ten  of  them 
would,  I  dare  say,  answer  boldly  in  the  affirma- 
tive ;  but  in  a  few  rather  sad  and  weary  faces  you 
might  read  something  more  than  a  doubt  about 
this  ;  and  lips,  not  so  red  and  full  as  they  once 
were,  on  which  the  wintry  smile  comes  but  rarely, 
could  tell  perhaps  a  different  story.  The  precise 
mould  that  will  fit  some  fancies  is  as  hard  to  find 
as  the  slipper  of  Cendrillon  ;  and  so,  in  default  of 
the  fairy  chaussure,  the  small  white  foot  goes  on 
its  road  unshod,  and  the  stones  and  briers  gall  it 
cruelly. 

With  men  it  does  not  so  much  matter.  They 
have  always  the  coitnteracting  resources  of  bodily 
and  mental  exertion,  against  which  the  affections 
can  make  but  little  head.  Indeed,  some  of  the 
most  distinguished  in  arts,  in  arms,  if  not  in  song, 
seem  to  have  gone  down  to  their  graves  without 
ever  giving  themselves  time  to  indulge  in  any  one 
of  these.  Perhaps  they  never  missed  a  sentiment, 
which  would  have  been  very  much  in  their  way  if 
they  had  felt  it.  If  all  tales  are  true,  mathematics 
are  a  very  effectual  Xenuphar.  But  with  women 
it  is  different.  Thei/  can't  be  always  clambering 
up  unexplored  peaks,  or  inventing  improvements 
in  gunnery,  or  commanding  Irregular  corps,  or 
bringing  in  faultless  Reform  Bills,  or  finding  out 
constellations,  or  shooting  big  game,  or  resorting  to 
any  of  our  thousand  and  one  safety-valves  to  super- 

10 


110  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

fliious  excitement.  Are  crochet,  or  crossed  letters, 
or  charity-schools,  or  even  Cochins  and  C?'eve-cceurSj 
so  entirely  engrossing  as  to  drown  forever  the  re- 
proaches of  Nature,  that  will  make  herself  heard  ? 
If  not,  surely  the  most  phlegmatically  proper  of 
her  sex  does  sometimes  feel  sad  and  dissatisfied 
when  she  thinks  that  she  has  never  been  able  to 
care  for  any  one  more  than  for  her  own  brother. 
It  must  seem  hard  that,  when  the  frost  of  old  age 
comes  on,  she  shall  not  have  even  a  memory  to 
look  back  upon,  to  warm  her.  But  in  the  world 
here  such  temptations  to  discontent  abound ;  but 
the  most  guileless  votary  of  the  Sacre  Coeur 
might  confess  regrets  and  misgivings  like  these 
without  meriting  any  extra  allowance  of  fast  and 
scourge. 

If  we  were  to  reckon  up  the  cases  we  have  heard, 
of  women  who  have  ''-  gone  wrong,"  and  made,  if 
not  mesalliances,  at  least  marriages  inexplicable 
on  any  rational  grounds,  it  would  fill  up  a  long  sum- 
mer's day,  even  without  drawing  on  darker  recol- 
lections of  post-nuptial  transgression.  In  these 
last  cases,  perhaps,  the  altar  and  absolute  indiffer- 
ence was  a  more  dangerous  element  than  Mrs. 
Malaprop's  "  little  aversion,"  which  is,  at  all  events, 
ix.  positive  thing  to  work  upon.  Lethargies  are 
harder  to  cure,  they  say,  than  fevers.  Certainly 
they  have  the  warning  examples  of  others  who 
have  so  erred,  and  paid  for  it  by  a  life-long  repent- 
ance ;  but  that  never  has  stopped  them  yet,  and 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  Ill 

never  will.  Ke member  the  reply  of  the  debutante 
to  her  austere  parent,  when  the  latter  refused  to 
take  her  to  a  ball,  saying  that  ''she  had  seen  the 
folly  of  such  things,"  —  "I  want  to  see  the  folly 
of  them  too."  Few  of  us  men  can  realize  the  feel- 
ing that,  with  our  sisters,  may  account  for,  though 
not  excuse,  much  folly  and  sin.  They  see  others 
happy  all  around  them :  it  is  hard  to  fast  AYhen  so 
many  are  feasting.  So  there  comes  a  shameful 
sense  of  ignorance  —  a  vague,  eager  desire  for 
knowledge  —  a  terror  of  an  isolation  deepening 
and  darkening  upon  them,  and  a  determination, 
at  any  risks,  to  baulk,  at  least,  that  enemy  —  and 
so,  like  the  poor  Lady  of  Shalott,  they  grow  rest- 
less, and  reckless,  and  rebellious,  at  last.  They 
are  safe  where  they  are,  but  the  days  have  so  much 
of  dull  sameness  that  there  is  a  sore  temptation  in 
the  unknown  peril.  "  Better,"  they  say,  ''  than 
the  close  atmosphere  of  the  guarded  castle,  and  the 
phantasms  of  fairy-land,  one  draught  of  the  fresh 
outer  air  —  one  glimpse  of  real  life  and  nature  — 
one  taste  of  substantial  joys  and  sorrows  that  shall 
wake  all  the  pulses  of  womanhood ;  even  though 
the  experience  be  brief  and  dearly  bought ;  though 
the  web  woven  while  we  sat  dreaming  must  surely 
be  rent  in  twain  ;  ay,  even  though  the  curse,  too, 
may  follow  very  swiftly,  and  the  swans  be  waiting 
at  the  gate,  that  shall  bear  us  down  to  our  bury- 
ing. 

If  staid  and  cold-blooded  virgins  and  matrons  are 


112  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

not  exempt  from  these  disagreeable  self-reproaches, 
how  did  it  fare  with  Cecil  Tresilyan,  in  whom  the 
energy  of  a  strong  temperament  was  stirring  like 
the  spring-sap  in  a  yonng  oak-tree  ?  Should  she 
die,  conscions  of  the  possession  of  such  a  wealth  of 
love,  with  none  to  share  or  inherit  it  ?  She  had 
seen  snch  numbers  of  her  friends  and  acquaint- 
ance "  pair  off,"  that  she  began  to  envy  at  last  the 
facility  of  attachment  that  she  had  been  wont  to 
hold  in  scorn.  Very  many  reflections  of  "  lovers 
lately  wed"  had  been  cast  upon  her  mirror,  and 
yet  the  One  knightly  shadow  was  long  in  coming. 
Can  it  be  that  yonder  gleam  through  the  trees  is 
the  flash  of  his  distant  armor  ? 

I  hope  this  illustrated  edition  of  rather  an  old 
theory  has  not  bored  you  much  ;  because  it  would 
have  been  just  as  simple  to  have  said  at  once  that, 
as  the  days  went  on  in  Dorade,  and  they  were 
thrown  constantly  into  each  other's  society.  Major 
Keene  began  to  monopolize  much  more  of  Cecil 
Tresilyan's  thoughts  than  she  would  have  allowed, 
if  she  could  have  helped  it :  for,  though  she  con- 
sidered Mr.  Fullarton's  testimony  unfairly  biased 
by  prejudice,  she  could  not  doubt  that  Royston  was 
by  no  means  the  most  eligible  object  to  centre  her 
young  affections  upon.  He  carefully  avoided  dis- 
cussion or  display  of  any  of  his  peculiar  opinions  in 
her  presence ;  and  on  such  occasions  seemed  in- 
clined to  soften  his  habitually  sardonic  and  depre- 
ciatory tone.     Once  or  twice,  when  they  did  dis- 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  113 

agree,  she  observed  that  he  contrived  to  maKe  some 
one  else  take  her  side,  and  then  argued  the  point, 
as  long  as  he  thought  it  worth  while,  with  the  last 
opponent.  Beyond  the  courtesy  which  invariably 
marked  his  demeanor  towards  her  sex,  this  was  the 
only  sign  of  especial  deference  that  he  had  shown. 
She  never  could  detect  the  faintest  approach  to  the 
adulation  that  hundreds  had  paid  her,  and  which 
she  had  wearied  of  long  ago.  Nevertheless,  she 
knew  perfectly  that  on  many  subjects,  generally 
considered  all-important,  they  differed  as  widely 
as  the  poles. 

Perpetual  struggles  between  the  spirit  and  the 
flesh  made  Cecil's  heart  an  odd  sort  of  debatable 
land :  if  she  could  not  always  insure  success  and 
supremacy  to  the  right  side,  she  certainly  did  en- 
deavor to  preserve  the  balance  of  power.  Person- 
ally she  rather  disliked  Mr.  FuUarton,  but  she 
seemed  to  look  upon  him  as  the  embodiment  of  a 
principle,  and  the  symbol  of  an  abstraction.  He 
represented  there  the  Establishment  which  she  had 
always  been  taught  to  venerate  ;  and  so  she  felt 
bound,  as  far  as  possible,  to  favor  and  support  him  ; 
just  as  Goring  and  Wilmot,  and  many  more  Avild 
cavaliers,  fearing  neither  God  nor  devil,  mingled 
in  their  war-cry  church  as  well  as  king.  (Rather 
a  rough  comparison  to  apply  to  a  well-intentioned 
demoiselle  of  the  nineteenth  century,  but,  I  fancy, 
a  correct  one.)  Thus,  if  she  indulged  herself  in  a 
long  tete-d-tete  with  Keene,  she  was  sure  to  be  ex- 

10*  ir 


114  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

traordinarily  civil  f  o  the  Chaplain  soon  after  ;  and 
if  she  devoted  herself  for  a  whole  evening  to  the 
society  of  the  priest  and  his  family,  the  soldier  was 
likely  to  benefit  by  it  on  the  morrow.  Unluckily, 
the  sacrifice  of  inclination  was  all  on  one  side. 

The  antagonists  had  never,  as  yet,  come  into 
open  collision.  It  was  not  respect  or  fear  that 
made  them  shy  of  the  conflict,  but  rather  a  feel- 
ing, which  neither  could  have  explained  to  himself, 
resembling  that  of  leaders  of  parties  in  the  House, 
who  decline  measuring  their  strength  against  each 
other  on  questions  of  minor  importance,  reserving 
themselves  for  the  final  crisis,  when  the  want-of- 
confidence  vote  shall  come  on.  Once  only  there 
was  a  chance  of  a  skirmish  —  the  merest  affair  of 
outposts. 

Keene  had  been  calling  on  the  Tresilyans,  one 
evening,  in  the  official  capacity  of  bearer  of  a 
verbal  message  from  Mrs.  Molyneux.  It  was  the 
simplest  one  imaginable ;  but,  as  graver  ambassa- 
dors have  done  before  him,  liking  his  quarters,  he 
dallied  over  his  mission.  (If  Geneva,  instead  of 
Paris,  were  chosen  for  the  meeting  of  a  Congress, 
would  not  several  knotty  points  be  decided  much 
more  speedily  ?)  When,  at  last,  all  was  settled,  it 
seemed  very  natural  that  he  should  petition  Cecil 
for  "just  one  song;"  and  you  know  what  that 
always  comes  to.  Royston  never  would  "  turn 
over,"  if  he  could  possibly  avoid  it ;  he  considered 
it  a  wilful  waste  of  advantages,  for  the  strain  on 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  115 

his  attention,  slight  as  it  might  be,  quite  spoilt  his 
appreciation  of  the  melody.  Perhaps  he  was  right. 
As  a  rule,  if  one  wanted  to  discover  the  one  per- 
son about  whose  approval  the  fair  cantatrice  is 
most  solicitous,  it  would  be  well  to  look  not  imme- 
diately behind  her  ivory  shoulder.  At  all  events, 
he  had  made  his  peace  with  Miss  Tresilyan  on  this 
point  long  ago.  So  he  drew  his  arm-chair  up  near 
the  piano,  but  out  of  her  sight  as  she  sang,  and 
sat  watching  her  intently  through  his  half-closed 
eyelids. 

I  marvel  not  that  in  so  many  legends  of  witchery 
and  seduction  since  the  Odyssey  the  Oeairealrj  dolSr] 
has  borne  its  part.  ''  But,"  the  Wanderer  might 
say,  replying  against  Circe's  warning,  "  have  we 
not  learnt  prudence  and  self-command  from 
Athene,  the  chaste  Tritonid  ?  Have  not  ten  years 
under  shield  before  Troy,  and  a  thousand  leagues 
of  seafaring,  made  our  hearts  as  hard  as  our  hands, 
and  our  ears  deaf  to  the  charms  of  song  ?  Thus 
much  of  wisdom,  at  least,  hath  come  with  grizzled 
hair,  that  we  may  mock  at  temptations  that  might 
have  won  us  when  our  cheeks  were  in  their  down. 
0  most  divinely  fair  of  goddesses  !  have  we  not 
resisted  your  own  enchantments  ?  Shall  we  go 
forth  scathless  from  ^sea  to  perish  on  the  Isle  of 
the  Sirens  ?  "  But  the  low  green  hills  are  already 
on  the  weather-beam,  and  we  are  aware  of  a  sweet 
weird  chant  that  steals  over  the  water  like  a  living 
thing,   and   smooths   the   ripple  where    it  passes. 


116  SWORD   AND   GOWN. 

How  fares  it  with  our  philosophic  Laertiades  ? 
Those  signs  look  strangely  unlike  incitements  to 
greater  speed  ;  and  what  mean  those  struggles  to 
get  loose  ?  Well,  perhaps,  for  the  hero  that  the 
good  hemp  holds  firm,  and  the  Peribates  and  Eury- 
lochus  spring  up  to  strengthen  his  bonds  ;  well, 
that  the  wax  seals  fast  the  ears  of  those  sturdy  old 
sea-dogs  who  stretch  to  their  oars  till  Ocean  grows 
hoary  behind  the  blades  ;  or  nobler  bones  might 
soon  be  added  to  the  myriads  that  lie  bleaching  in 
the  meadow,  half  hidden  by  its  flowers.  It  was 
not,  then,  so  very  trivial  the  counsel  that  she  gave 
in  parting  kindness, — 

KipKi]  ivTrXoaafjiOi,  dcLuf]  deos  avbtjecrcra. 

Are  we  in  our  generation  wiser  than  the  ''  man 
of  many  wiles  "  ?  Dinner  is  over,  and  every  one 
is  going  out  into  the  pleasance,  to  listen  to  the 
nightingales. 

"  It  will  be  delicious  ;  there  is  nothing  I  should 
like  so  much  ;  but  I  —  I  sprained  my  ankle  in 
jumping  that  gate ;  and.  Amy,"  (that 's  "  my  cousin 
who  happens  to  sing,")  "  I  heard  you  cough  three 
times  this  morning.  You  won't  be  so  imprudent 
as  to  risk  the  night  air  ?  Ah,  they  are  gone  at 
last ;  and  now.  Amy  dear,  —  good,  kindest  Amy  ! 
—  open  the  especial  crimson  book  quickly,  and 
give  me  first  your  own  pet  song,  and  then  mine, 
and  then  '  The  Three  Fishers,'  and  then  '  Maud,' 
and  then,  I  suppose,  they  will  be   coming  back 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  117 

again  ;  but  by  that  time  they  may  be  as  enthusi- 
astic as  they  please,  —  we  shall  be  able  to  meet 
them  fairly." 

Things  have  changed  since  David's  day  ;  spirits 
are  raised  sometimes  now,  as  well  as  laid,  by  harp 
and  song.  In  good  truth,  they  are  not  always  evil 
ones. 

On  that  night,  Eoyston  Keene  listened  to  the 
sweet  voice  that  seemed  to  knock  at  the  gates  of 
his  heart,  —  gates  shut  so  long  that  the  bars  had 
rusted  in  their  staples,  —  not  loudly  or  imperi- 
ously, but  powerful  in  its  plaintive  appeal,  like 
that  of  some  one  dearly  loved,  standing  without  in 
the  bitter  cold,  and  pleading,  —  "  Ah,  let  me  in  !  " 
He  listened  till  a  pleasant,  dreamy  feeling  of  do- 
mesticity began  to  creep  over  him  that  he  had 
never  known  before.  He  could  realize,  then,  that 
there  were  circumstances  under  which  a  man 
might  easily  dispense  with  high  play,  and  hard 
riding,  and  hard  flirting,  (to  give  it  a  mild  name,) 
and  hard  drinking,  and  other  excitements  which 
habit  had  almost  turned  into  necessities,  without 
missing  any  one  of  them.  There  were  two  words 
which  ought  to  have  put  all  these  fancies  to  flight, 
as  the  writing  on  the  wall  scattered  the  guests  of 
Belshazzar,  —  "Too  Late."  But  he  turned  his 
head  away,  and  would  not  read  them.  He  had 
actually  succeeded  in  ignoring  another  disen- 
chanting reality,  —  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Danvers. 
That  estimable  person  seemed  more  than  usually 


118  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

fidgetty,  and  disposed  to  make  herself,  as  well  as 
others,  uncomfortable.  There  was  evidently  some- 
thing on  her  mind,  from  her  glancing  so  often  and 
nervously  at  the  door.  It  opened  at  last  softly, 
just  as  Cecil  had  finished  "  The  Swallow,"  and 
revealed  Mr.  Fullarton  standing  on  the  threshold. 
The  latter  was  not  well  pleased  with  the  scene  be- 
fore him.  There  was  an  air  of  comfort  about  it 
which,  under  the  circumstances,  he  thought  decid- 
edly wrong ;  besides  which,  he  could  not  get  rid 
of  a  vague  misgiving  (the  rarest  thing  with  him  !) 
that  his  visit  was  scarcely  welcome  or  well-timed. 

Miss  Tresilyan  rose  instantly  to  greet  the  in- 
truder (yes,  that  's  the  right  word)  with  her  usual 
calm  courtesy.  Yery  few  words  had  been  ex- 
changed for  the  last  hour,  but  she  was  perfectly 
aware  —  what  woman  is  not  ?  —  of  the  influence 
she  had  exercised  over  her  listener.  That  con- 
sciousness had  made  her  strangely  happy.  So,  she 
certainly  could  have  survived  the  Chaplain's  ab- 
sence. Royston  Keene  rose  too,  quite  slowly. 
There  are  compounds,  you  know,  that  always  re- 
main soft  and  ductile  in  a  certain  temperature,  but 
harden  into  stone  at  the  first  contact  with  the  outer 
air.  It  was  just  so  with  him.  Even  as  he  moved, 
all  gentle  feelings  were  struck  dead  in  his  heart, 
and  he  stood  up  a  harder  man  than  ever,  with  no 
kinder  emotion  left  than  bitter  anger  at  the  interrup- 
tion. He  could  not  always  command  his  eyes,  he 
knew ;  and,  if  he  had  not  passed  his  hand  quickly 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  119 

over  his  face  just  then,  their  expression  might  have 
thrilled  through  the  new-comer  disagreeably. 

"  Cecil,  dearest,"  Mrs.  Danvers  said,  with  rather 
an  awkward  assumption  of  being  perfectly  at  her 
ease,  "  Mr.  Fullarton  was  good  enough  to  say  he 
would  come  and  read  to  us  this  evening,  and  ex- 
plain some  passages.      I  don't  know  why  I  forgot 

to  tell  3'ou.     I  meant  to  do  so;  but "     Her 

look  finished  the  sentence.  Royston,  like  the 
others,  guessed  what  she  meant ;  and  you  may 
guess  how  he  thanked  her. 

Cecil  colored  with  vexation.  She  was  so  anxious 
to  prevent  Mrs.  Danvers  from  feeling  dependent 
that  she  allowed  her  to  take  all  sorts  of  liberties, 
and  the  amiable  woman  was  not  disposed  to  let 
the  privilege  fall  into  disuse.  On  the  present  oc- 
casion there  was  such  an  absurd  incongruity  of 
time  and  place,  that  she  might  possibly  have  tried 
to  evade  the  ''  exposition,"  but  she  happened  just 
then  to  meet  Keene's  eye.  The  sarcasm  there  was 
not  so  carefully  veiled  as  it  usually  was  in  her 
presence.  Never  yet  was  born  Tresilyan  who 
blenched  from  a  challenge ;  so  she  answered  at 
once  to  express  "  her  sense  of  Mr.  Fullarton's  kind- 
ness, and  her  regret  that  he  had  not  come  earlier 
in  the  evening."  If  Royston  had  known  how 
bitterly  she  despised  herself  for  disingenuousness, 
he  would  have  been  amply  avenged. 

Even  while  she  was  speaking  he  closed  the  piano 
very  slowly  and  softly.  It  did  not  take  him  long 
to  put  on  his  impenetrable  face,  for  when  he  turned 


120  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

round  there  was  not  a  trace  of  anger  there  ;  the 
scarce  suppressed  taunt  in  Cecil's  last  words  moved 
him  apparently  no  more  than  Mrs.  Danvers's  glance 
of  triumph. 

"  I  owe  you  a  thousand  apologies,"  he  said,  "for 
staying  such  an  unwarrantable  time,  and  quite  as 
many  thanks  for  the  pleasantest  two  hours  I  have 
spent  in  Dorade.  Don't  think  I  would  detain  you 
one  moment  from  Mr.  Fullarton  and  your  devo- 
tional exercises.  You  know  —  no,  you  donH  know 
—  the  verse  in  the  ballad : 

Amundeville  may  be  lord  by  day, 

But  the  monk  is  lord  by  night ; 
Nor  wine  nor  wassail  would  stir  a  vassal 

To  question  that  friar's  right/' 

He  went  away  then  without  another  word  be- 
yond the  ordinary  adieu.  Royston  had  a  way  of 
repeating  poetry  peculiar  to  himself — rather  mo- 
notonous, perhaps,  but  effective  from  the  depth 
and  volume  of  his  voice.  You  gained  in  rhythm 
what  you  lost  in  rhyme.  The  sound  seemed  to 
linger  in  their  ears  after  he  had  closed  the  door. 

As  the  echo  of  the  firm  strong  footstep  died 
away,  a  virtuous  indignation  possessed  the  broad 
visage  of  the  divine. 

"  It  is  like  Major  Keene,"  said  he,  "  to  select  as 
his  text-book  the  most  godless  work  of  the  satanic 
school ;  but  I  should  have  thought  that  even  he 
would  have  paused  before  venturing,  in  this  pres- 
ence, on  a  quotation  from  Don  Juan.^^ 

At  that  awful  word  Mrs.  Danvers  gave  a  little 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  121 

shriek,  as  if  a  '•  bee  had  stung  her  newly."  Had 
she  been  a  Catholic  she  would  have  crossed  her- 
self an  indefinite  number  of  times :  will  you  be 
good  enough  to  imagine  her  protracted  look  of 
holy  horror  ?  Cecil's  eyes  were  glittering  with 
scornful  humor  as  she  answered  very  demurely, 
"  What  an  advantage  it  is  to  be  a  large  general 
reader !  It  enables  one  to  impart  so  much  infor- 
mation. Now,  Bessie  and  I  should  never  have 
guessed  where  those  lines  came  from  if  you  had 
not  enlightened  us.  They  seemed  harmless  enough 
in  themselves ;  and  Major  Keene  was  considerate 
enough  to  leave  us  in  our  ignorance.  So  Byron 
comes  within  the  scope  of  your  studies,  Mr.  Ful- 
larton.  I  thought  you  seldom  indulged  in  such 
secular  authors  ?  "  The  Chaplain  was  quite  right 
in  making  his  reply  inaudible  ;  it  would  have  been 
difficult  to  find  a  perfectly  satisfactory  one.  How- 
ever, the  hour  was  late  enough  to  excuse  his 
beginning  the  reading  Avithout  further  delay.  It 
was  not  a  success.  There  was  a  stoppage  some- 
where in  the  current  of  his  mellifluous  eloquence  ; 
and  the  exposition  was  concluded  so  soon,  and 
indeed  aljruptly,  that  Mrs.  Danvers  retired  to  rest 
with  a  feeling  of  disappointment  and  inanition, 
such  as  one  may  have  experienced  wdien,  expect- 
ing a  "  sit-down  "  supper,  we  arc  obliged  to  con- 
tent ourselves  wdth  a  meagrely-furnished  buffet. 
For  some  minutes  after  Mr.  Fullarton  had  de- 
parted Miss  Tresilyan  sat  silent,  leaning  her  head 
11 


122  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

upon  her  hand.  At  last  she  said,  "  Bessie,  dear, 
you  know  I  would  not  interfere  with  your  comforts 
or  your  arrangements  for  the  world  ;  but,  the  next 
time  you  wish  to  have  a  repetition  of  this,  would 
you  be  so  very  good  as  to  tell  me  beforehand  ?  I 
think  I  shall  spend  that  evening  with  Fanny  Moly- 
neux.  I  do  not  quite  like  it,  and  I  am  sure  it 
does  me  no  real  good." 

She  spoke  so  gently  that  Mrs.  Danvers  was  going 
to  attempt  one  of  her  querulous  remonstrances, 
but  she  happened  to  look  at  the  face  of  her  patron- 
ess. It  wore  an  expression  not  often  seen  there  ; 
but  she  was  wise  enough  to  interpret  it  aright,  and 
to  guess  that  she  had  gone  far  enough.  It  was 
ever  a  dangerous  experiment  to  trifle  with  the 
Tresilyans,  when  their  brows  were  bent.  So  she 
launched  into  some  of  her  affectionate  platitudes 
and  profuse  excuses,  and  under  cover  of  these  re- 
treated to  her  rest.  It  is  a  comfort  to  reflect  that 
she  slept  very  soundly,  though  she  monopolized 
all  the  slumber  that  night  that  ought  to  have  fallen 
to  Cecil's  share. 

What  did  Royston  Keene  think  of  the  events  of 
the  evening  ?  As  he  went  down  the  stairs  I  am 
afraid  he  cursed  the  Chaplain  once  heartily ;  but  on 
the  whole  he  was  not  dissatisfied.  At  all  events, 
the  short  walk  down  to  the  club  completely  restored 
his  sang-froid^  and  the  last  trace  of  vexation  van- 
ished as  he  entered  the  card-room,  and  saw  the 
^'  light  of  battle  "  gleam  on  the  haggard  face  of 
Armand  de  Chateaumesnil. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

THERE  ^^as  in  Dorado  a  stout  and  meritorious 
elderly  widow,  who  formed  a  sort  of  connect- 
ing link  between  the  natives  and  the  settlers. 
English  by  birth,  she  had  married  a  Frenchman  of 
fair  family  and  fortune  :  so  that  her  habits  and 
sympathies  attached  themselves  about  equally  to 
the  two  countries.  You  do  not  often  find  so  good 
a  specimen  of  the  hybrid.  She  gave  frequent  lit- 
tle soirees,  which  were  as  pleasant  and  exciting  as 
such  assemblages  of  heterogeneous  elements  usu- 
ally are  :  that  is  to  say  —  very  moderately  so. 
The  two  streams  flowed  on  in  the  same  channel, 
without  mingling,  or  losing  their  peculiar  charac- 
teristics.    I  fancy  the  fault  was  most  on  our  side. 

We  no  longer,  perhaps,  parade  Europe  with 
"  pride  in  our  port,  defiance  in  our  eye  ;  "  but 
still,  in  our  travels,  we  lose  no  opportunity  of 
maintaining  and  asserting  our  well-beloved  dignity, 
which,  if  rather  a  myth  and  vestige  of  the  past,  at 
home,  abroad  —  is  a  very  stern  reality.  Have  you 
not  seen,  at  a  crowded  table-dlwte,  the  British 
mother  encompass  her  daughters  with  the  double 
bulwark  of  herself  and  their  staid  governess  on 


124  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

either  flank,  so  as  to  avert  the  contamination 
which  must  otherwise  have  certainly  ensued  from 
the  close  proximity  of  a  courteous  white-bearded 
Graf,  or  a  fringante  Vicomtesse  whose  eyes  out- 
shone her  diamonds  ?  May  it  ever  remain  so  ! 
Each  nation  has  its  vanity  and  its  own  peculiar 
glory,  as  it  has  its  especial  produce.  0  cotton- 
mills  of  Manchester  !  envy  not  nor  emulate  the 
velvet  looms  of  Genoa  or  Lyons  :  you  are  ten 
times  as  useful,  and  a  hundred-fold  more  remu- 
nerating. What  matters  it  if  Damascus  guard 
jealously  the  secret  of  her  fragrant  clouded  steel, 
when  Sheffield  can  turn  out  efficient  sword-blades 
at  the  rate  of  a  thousand  per  hour  ?  Simm  cuiqiie 
tribuiio.  Let  others  aspire  to  be  popular  :  be  it 
ours,  to  remain  irreproachably  and  unapproach- 
ably respectable. 

So  poor  Mdme.  de  Yerzenay's  efforts  to  promote 
an  entente  cordiale  were  lamentably  foiled.  When 
the  English  mustered  strong,  they  would  immedi- 
ately form  themselves  into  a  hollow  square,  the 
weakest  in  the  centre,  and  so  defy  the  assaults  of 
the  enemy.  Now  and  then  a  daring  Gaul  would 
attempt  the  adventure  of  the  Enchanted  Castle, 
determined,  if  not  to  deliver  the  imprisoned  maid- 
ens, at  least  to  enliven  their  solitude.  See  how 
gayly  and  gallantly  he  starts,  glancing  a  saucy 
adieu  to  Adolphe  and  Eugene,  who  admire  his 
audacity,  but  augur  ill  for  its  success.  Allons,je 
me  risque.     Montjoie   St.    Denis  I     France  a  la 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  125 

7-escousse  !  Ho  winds,  as  it  were,  the  bugle  at  the 
gate,  with  a  well-turned  compliment  or  a  brilliant 
bit  of  badinage.  Slowly  the  jealous  valves  unclose  ; 
he  stands  within  the  magic  precinct  —  an  eerie 
silence  all  around.  Suppose  that  one  of  the  Seven 
condescends  to  parley  with  him  :  she  does  so,  ner- 
vously and  under  protest,  glancing  ever  over  her 
shoulder,  as  if  she  expected  the  austere  Fairy  mo- 
mentarily to  appear;  while  her  companions  sit 
without  winking  or  moving,  cowering  together  like 
a  covey  of  birds  when  the  hawk  is  circling  over  the 
turnip-field.  How  can  you  expect  a  man  to  make 
himself  agreeable  under  such  appalling  circum- 
stances ?  The  heart  of  the  adventurer  sinks  within 
him.  Lo  !  there  is  a  rustling  of  robes  near  ;  what 
if  Calyba  or  Urganda  were  at  hand  ?  Fuyons  I 
And  the  knight-errant  retreats,  with  drooping 
crest  and  smirched  armor  —  a  melancholy  contrast 
to  the  preux  chevalier  who  went  forth  but  now 
chanting  his  war-song,  conquering  and  to  conquer. 
The  remarks  of  the  discomfited  one,  after  such  a 
failure,  were,  I  fear,  the  reverse  of  complimentary  ; 
and  the  unpleasant  word,  beg-ueule,  figured  in 
them  a  great  deal  too  often. 

Cecil  and  Fanny  Molyneux  were  certainly  ex- 
ceptions to  the  rule  of  unsociability  ;  but  the  gen- 
eral dulness  of  those  reunions  infected  them,  and 
made  the  atmosphere  oppressive  ;  it  required  a 
vast  amount  of  leaven  to  make  such  a  large  heavy 
lump  light  or  palatable.  Besides,  it  is  not  pleasant 
11* 


1^6 


SWORD    AND    GOWN. 


to  carry  on  a  conversation  with  twenty  or  thirty 
people  looking  on  and  listening,  as  if  it  were  some 
theatrical  performance  that  they  had  paid  money 
to  see,  and  consequently  had  a  right  to  criticise. 
The  fair  friends  had  held  counsel  together  as  to 
the  expediency  of  gratifying  others  at  a  great  ex- 
pense to  themselves  on  the  present  occasion,  and 
had  made  their  election  —  not  to  go. 

Early  the  next  morning,  Miss  Tresilyan  encoun- 
tered Keene  :  their  conversation  was  very  brief ; 
but,  just  as  he  was  quitting  her,  the  latter  re- 
marked, in  a  matter-of-course  way,  "  We  shall 
meet  this  evening  at  Madame  de  Yerzenay's  ?  " 

She  looked  at  him  in  some  surprise  ;  for  she 
knew  he  must  have  heard,  from  Mrs.  Molyneux,  of 
their  intention  to  absent  themselves.  She  told 
him  as  much. 

"  Ah  !  last  night  she  did  not  mean  to  go,"  re- 
plied Royston  ;  "  but  she  changed  her  mind  this 
morning,  while  I  was  with  them.  When  I  left 
them,  ten  minutes  ago,  there  was  a  consultation 
going  on  with  Harry  as  to  what  she  should  wear. 
I  don't  think  it  will  last  more  than  half  an  hour ; 
and  then  she  was  coming,  to  try  to  persuade  yOu 
to  keep  her  fickleness  in  countenance." 

Now,  the  one  point  upon  which  Cecil  had  been 
most  severe  on  la  mi^nonne  was  the  way  in  which 
the  latter  suifered  herself  to  be  guided  by  her  hus- 
band's friend.  It  is  strange,  how  prone  is  the 
unconverted  and  immated  feminine  nature  to  in- 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  127 

stigate  revolt  against  the  Old  Dominion ;  never 
more  so,  than  when  the  beautiful  Carbonara  feels 
that  its  shadow  is  creeping  fast  over  the  frontier  of 
her  own  freedom.  Nay,  suppose  the  conquest 
achieved,  and  that  they  themselves. are  reduced  to 
the  veriest  serfdom,  none  the  less  will  they  strive 
to  goad  other  hereditary  bondswomen  into  striking 
the  blow.  Is  it  not  known  that  steady  old  ^'  ma- 
chiners,"  broken  for  years  to  double-harness,  will 
encourage  and  countenance  their  "flippant"  prog- 
eny in  kicking  over  the  traces  ?  How  otherwise 
could  the  name  of  mother-in-law,  on  the  stage  and 
in  divers  domestic  circles,  have  become  a  syno- 
nyme  for  firebrand  ?  Look  at  your  wife's  maid, 
for  instance.  She  will  spend  two  thirds  of  her 
wages  and  the  product  of  many  silk  dresses 
("  scarcely  soiled  ")  in  furnishing  that  objection- 
able and  disreputable  suitor  of  hers  with  funds  for 
his  extravagance.  He  has  beggared  two  or  three 
of  her  acquaintance  already,  under  the  same  flimsy 
pretence  of  intended  marriage,  that  scarcely  de- 
ludes poor  Abigail :  she  has  sore  misgivings  as  to 
her  own  fate.  Alternately  he  bullies  and  cajoles  ; 
but  all  the  while  she  knows  that  he  is  lying,  delib- 
erately and  incessantly  :  yet  she  never  remon- 
strates or  complains.  It  is  true  that,  if  you  pass 
the  door  of  her  little  room  late  into  the  night,  you 
will  probably  go  to  bed  haunted  by  the  sound  of 
low,  dreary  weeping :  but  it  would  be  worse  than 
useless  to  argue  with  her  about  her  folly  ;   she 


128  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

cherishes  her  noisome  and  ill-favored  weed,  as  if 
it  were  the  fairest  of  fragrant  flowers,  and  will  not 
be  persuaded  to  throw  it  aside.  Well  —  if  yon 
could  listen  to  that  same  long-suffering  and  soft- 
hearted young  female,  in  her  place  in  the  subter- 
ranean Upper  House,  when  the  conduct  of  "  Mas- 
ter "  (especially  as  regards  Foreign  Affairs)  is 
being  canvassed,  the  fluency  and  virulence  of  her 
anathemas  would  almost  take  your  breath  away. 
Even  that  dear  old  housekeeper,  —  who  nursed 
you,  and  loves  you  better  than  any  of  her  own 
children,  —  when  she  would  suggest  an  excuse  or 
denial  of  the  alleged  peccadilloes,  is  borne  away 
and  overwhelmed  by  the  abusive  torrent,  and  can 
at  last  only  grumble  her  dissent.  Yery  few  women, 
of  good  birth  and  education,  make  confidantes 
now-a-days  of  their  personal  attendants  ;  and  the 
race  of  "  Miggs  "  is  chiefly  confined  to  the  class  in 
which  Dickens  has  placed  it,  if  it  is  not  extinct 
utterly.  But  there  is  a  season  —  while  the  brush 
passes  lightly  and  lingeringly  over  the  long-trailing 
"back-hair"  —  when  a  hint,  an  allusion,  or  an 
insinuation,  cleverly  placed,  may  go  far  towards 
fanning  into  flame  the  embers  of  matrimonial  re- 
bellion. I  know  no  case  where  such  serious  con- 
sequences may  be  produced,  with  so  little  danger 
of  implication  to  the  prime  mover  of  the  discon- 
tent, except  it  be  the  system  of  the  patriotic  and 
intrepid  Mazzini.  Many  outbreaks,  perhaps, — 
quelled  after  much  loss  on  both  sides,  in  which 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  129 

the  monarchy  was  only  saved  by  the  judicious  ex- 
penditure of  much  mitraille,  —  might  have  been 
traced  to  the  covert  influence  of  that  mild-eyed, 
melancholy  cameriste. 

Cecil,  who  was  not  exempt  from  these  revolu- 
tionary tendencies,  any  more  than  from  other 
weaknesses  of  her  sex,  was  especially  provoked  by 
this  fresh  instance  of  Fanny's  subordination. 

"  Mrs.  Molyneux  is  perfectly  at  liberty  to  form 
her  own  plans,"  she  said,  very  haughtily.  "  Be- 
yond a  certain  point,  I  should  no  more  dream  of 
interfering  with  them  than  she  would  with  mine. 
She  is  quite  right  to  change  her  mind  as  often  as 
she  thinks  proper ;  only  in  this  instance,  I  should 
have  thought  it  was  hardly  worth  while." 

"  Well,"  Keene  answered,  in  his  cool,  slow  way, 
"  Mrs.  Molyneux  has  got  that  unfortunate  habit  of 
consulting  other  people's  wishes  and  convenience 
in  preference  to  her  own ;  it  's  very  foolish  and 
weak ;  but  it  is  so  confirmed,  that  I  doulDt  even 
your  being  able  to  break  her  of  it.  This  time,  I 
am  sure  you  won't.  It  is  a  pity  you  are  so  deter- 
mined on  disappointing  the  public.  I  know  of 
more  than  one  person  who  has  put  off  other  en- 
gagements in  anticipation  of  hearing  you  sing." 

He  was  perfectly  careless  about  provoking  her 
now,  or  he  would  have  been  more  cautious.  That 
particular  card  was  the  very  last  in  his  hand  to 
have  played.  Miss  Tresilyan  was  good-nature 
itself,  in  placing  her  talents  at  the  service  of  any 


130  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

man,  woman,  or  child  who  could  appreciate  them. 
She  would  go  through  half  her  repertoire  to  amuse 
a  sick  friend,  any  day ;  neither  was  she  averse  to 
disj^laying  them  before  the  world  in  general,  at 
proper  seasons;  but  she  liked  the  "boards"  to  be 
worthy  of  the  prima  donna,  and  had  no  idea  of 
"  starring  it  in  the  provinces."  All  the  pride  of 
her  race  gathered  on  her  brow,  just  then,  like  a 
thunder-cloud,  and  her  eyes  flashed  no  summer 
lightning. 

"  Madame  de  Yerzenay  was  wrong  to  advertise  a 
performer  who  does  not  belong  to  her  troupe.  I 
hope  the  audience  will  be  patient  under  their  dis- 
appointment, and  not  break  up  the  benches.  If 
not,  she  must  excuse  herself  as  best  she  may.  I 
have  signed  no  engagement,  so  my  conscience  is 
clear.     I  certainly  shall  not  go." 

The  bolt  struck  the  granite  fairly  ;  but  it  did  not 
shiver  off  one  splinter,  nor  even  leave  a  stain. 
Royston  only  remarked,  "  Then,  for  to-day,  it  is 
useless  to  say  au  revoir ;  "  and  so,  raising  his  cap, 
passed  on. 

The  poor  mignonne  had  a  very  rough  time  of  it, 
soon  afterwards.  Cecil  was  morally  and  physically 
incapable  of  scolding  any  one ;  but  she  was  very 
severe  on  the  sin  of  vacillation,  and  yielding  to 
unauthorized  interference.  The  culprit  did  not 
attempt  to  justify  herself;  she  only  said,  — "  They 
both  wanted  me  to  go  so  much,  and  I  did  not  like 
to  vex  Harry."     Then  she  began  to  coax  and  pet 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  131 

her  monitress  in  the  pretty,  cliildisli  way  which  in- 
terfered so  much  with  matronly  dignity,  till  the 
latter  was  brought  to  think  that  she  had  been  cru- 
elly harsh  and  stern ;  at  last  she  got  so  penitent, 
that  she  offered  to  accompany  her  friend,  and  lend 
the  light  of  her  countenance  to  Madame  de  Yerze- 
nay.  For  this  infirmity  of  purpose,  many  female 
Dracos  would  have  ordered  her  off  to  instant  exe- 
cution —  very  justly.  That  silly  little  Fanny  only 
kissed  her,  and  said,  "  she  was  a  dear,  kind  dar- 
ling." What  can  you  expect  of  such  irreclaimably 
weak-minded  offenders  ?  They  ought  to  be  sen- 
tenced to  SIX  months'  hard  labor,  supervised  by 
Miss  Martineau  :  perhaps  even  this  would  not  work 
a  permanent  cure.  Still,  on  The  Tresilyan's  part, 
it  was  an  immense  effort  of  self-denial.  She  was 
well  aware  how  she  laid  herself  open  to  Royston 
Keene's  satire,  and  how  unlikely  he  was,  this  time, 
to  spare  her.  Only  perfect  trust,  or  perfect  indif- 
ference, can  make  one  careless  about  giving  such  a 
chance  to  a  known  bitter  tongue. 

However,  having  made  up  her  mind  to  the  self- 
immolation,  she  proceeded  to  consider  how  best  she 
should  adorn  herself  for  the  sacrifice.  Others  have 
done  so  in  sadder  seriousness.  Doubtless,  Curtius 
rode  at  his  last  leap  without  a  speck  on  his  bur- 
nished mail :  purple  and  gold  and  gems  flamed  all 
round  Sardanapalus  when  he  fired  the  holocaust  in 
Nineveh  :  even  that  miserable,  dastardly  Nero  was 
solicitous  about  the  marble  fragments  that  were  to 


132  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

line  his  felon's  grave.  So  it  befell  that,  on  this 
particular  evening,  Cecil  went  through  a  very  care- 
ful toilet,  though  it  was  as  simple  as  usual ;  for 
the  ultra-gorgeous  style  she  utterly  eschewed. 
The  lilac  trimmings  of  her  dress  broke  the  dead 
white  sufficiently,  but  not  glaringly,  with  the  sub- 
dued effect  of  color  that  you  may  see  in  a  campa- 
nula. The  coiffure  was  not  decided  on  till  several 
had  been  rejected.  She  chose  at  last  a  chaplet  of 
those  soft,  silvery  Venetian  shells,  —  such  as  her 
bridesmaids  may  have  woven  into  the  night  of  Am- 
phitrite's  hair  when  they  crowned  her  Queen  oi 
the  Mediterranean. 

It  was  a  very  artistic  picture.  So  Madame  de 
Yerzenay  said,  in  the  midst  of  a  rather  too  rap- 
turous greeting ;  so  the  Frenchmen  thought,  as  a 
low  murmur  of  admiration  ran  through  their  cir- 
cle when  she  entered.  Famiy,  too,  had  her  modest 
success.  There  were  not  wanting  eyes  that  turned 
for  a  moment  from  the  brilliant  beauty  of  her 
companion,  to  repose  themselves  on  the  sweet  girl- 
ish face  shaded  by  silky  brown  tresses,  and  on  the 
perfect  little  figure  floating  so  lightly  and  grace- 
fully along  amidst  its  draperies  of  pale  cloudy 
blue. 

Miss  Tresilyan  felt  that  there  might  be  one 
glance  that  it  would  be  a  trial  to  meet  unconcern- 
edly, and  she  had  been  schooling  herself  sedu- 
lously for  the  encounter.  She  might  have  spared 
herself  some  trouble  ;  for  Royston  Keene  was  not 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  133 

tliere  when  they  arrived.  She  knew  that  Mrs. 
Molyneux  had  tokl  him  of  the  change  in  their 
plans  ;  but  the  latter  did  not  choose  to  confess  how 
she  had  been  puzzled  by  the  very  peculiar  smile 
with  which  the  Major  greeted  the  intelligence  :  it 
was  the  only  notice  he  took  of  it.  So  the  evening 
went  on,  with  nothing  to  raise  it  above  the  dead 
level  of  average  soirees.  Cecil  delayed  going  to  the 
piano  till  she  was  ashamed  of  making  more  ex- 
cuses, and  was  obliged  to  "  execute  herself"  with 
the  best  grace  she  could  manage.  Even  while  she 
was  singing,  her  glance  turned  more  than  once 
toward  the  door ;  but  the  stalwart  figure,  beside 
which  all  others  seemed  dwarfed  and  insignificant, 
never  showed  itself.  It  was  clear  lie  was  not 
among  those  who  had  given  up  other  engagements 
to  hear  her  songs.  If  we  have  been  at  some  trou- 
ble and  mental  expense  in  getting  ourselves  into 
any  one  frame  of  mind,  —  whether  it  be  enthu- 
siasm, or  self-control,  or  fortitude,  or  heroism,  —  it 
is  an  undeniable  nuisance  to  find  out  suddenly 
that  there  is  to  be  no  scope  for  its  exercise.  Take 
a  very  practical  instance.  Here  is  Lt.  Col.  Asahel 
ready  on  the  ground  ;  looking,  as  his  conscience 
and  his  backers  tell  him,  ''  as  fine  as  a  star,  and 
fit  to  run  for  his  life :  "  at  tlie  last  moment  his 
opponent  pays  forfeit.  Just  ascertain  the  senti- 
ments of  that  gallant  Fusilier.  Does  the  result 
at  all  recompense  him  for  the  futile  privations  and 
wasted  asceticism  of  those  long  weary  months  of 

12 


134  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

training  —  when  pastry  was,  as  it  were,  an  abomi- 
nation unto  him  —  when  his  hps  kept  tliemselves 
imdefiled  from  driest  champagne  or  soundest  claret 
—  when  he  fled,  fast  as  Cinderella,  from  the  pleas- 
antest  company,  at  the  stroke  of  the  midnight 
chimes?  Of  course  he  feels  deeply  injured,  and 
would  have  forgiven  the  absentee  far  more  easily 
if  the  latter  had  beaten  him  fairly,  on  his  merits, 
breasting  the  handkerchief  first  by  half  a  dozen 
yards. 

On  this  principle.  Miss  Tresilyan  labored  all  that 
evening  under  an  impression  that  Keene  had  treat- 
ed her  very  ill,  and  was  prepared  to  resent  it  ac- 
cordingly. Another  there  besides  herself  felt  puz- 
zled and  uncomfortable.  Harry  Molyneux  could 
not  understand  it  at  all.  E-oyston  had  seemed  so 
very  anxious  in  the  morning  to  induce  Fanny  to 
go  —  a  proceeding  which  would  probably  involve 
the  presence  of  her  "  inseparable  ;  "  and  disinter- 
ested persuasion  was  by  no  means  in  the  Cool  Cap- 
tain's line.  So  Harry  went  wandering  about  in  a 
purposeless,  disconsolate  fashion  for  some  time,  till 
he  found  himself  near  Cecil.  I  fancy  he  had  an 
indistinct  idea  that  some  apology  was  owing  to  her 
for  his  chief's  imaccountable  absence  ;  at  all  events, 
he  began  to  confide  his  misgivings  on  the  subject 
as  soon  as  the  men  who  surrounded  her  moved 
away.  They  soon  did  so ;  for  The  Tresilyan  had 
a  way,  quite  peculiar  to  herself,  of  conveying  to 
those  whom   she  wished  to  get  rid  of  that  their 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  135 

audience  was  ended,  without  speaking  one  word. 
There  was  a  very  unusual  element  of  impatient 
pettishness  in  her  reply. 

''  What  a  curious  fascination  Major  Keene  ap- 
pears to  exercise  over  his  friends  !  I  suppose  you 
would  think  it  quite  wrong  to  be  amused  anywhere, 
unless  he  were  present  to  sanction  it.  Do  you  be- 
come a  free  agent  again,  when  you  are  given  up 
entirely  to  your  own  devices  ?  And  do  all  subal- 
terns keep  up  that  veneration  for  their  senior  offi- 
cers after  they  have  left  the  service  ?  It  seems  to 
be  carrying  the  esprit  de  corps  rather  far." 

Harry  laughed  out  his  own  musical  laugh  ;  even 
the  imputation  of  dependency  and  helplessness, 
which  is  apt  to  ruffle  most  people,  fell  back  harm- 
lessly from  his  impenetrable  good-humor.  ''  I  dare 
say  it  does  look  very  absurd.  But  you  ought  to 
have  lived  with  him  as  long  as  I  have  done  to 
understand  how  naturally  Royston  gains  his  influ- 
ence, and  makes  us  do  what  he  chooses." 

"  Certainly  I  cannot  understand  it.  The  poco- 
curante style  is  so  very  common  just  now  that  one 
gets  rather  tired  of  it.  1  do  not  like  the  affecta- 
tion at  all,  bvit  I  dislike  the  reality  still  more.  I 
believe  it  is  a  reality  with  Major  Keene.  I  cannot 
fancy  him  betraying  any  unrestrained  excitement, 
however  strong  the  passion  that  moved  him  might 
be.  You  have  never  known  him  do  so,  now  ? 
Confess  it?" 

"  Yes,  I  have,  once,"  he  answered  gravely,  "  and 
I  never  wish  to  see  it  again." 


136  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

Cecil  always  liked  talking  to  Harry  Molyneux. 
On  the  present  occasion  the  mere  sound  of  his 
voice  seemed  to  go  far  towards  soothing  her  irrita- 
tion :  many  others  had  experienced  the  same  effect 
from  those  kindly  gentle  tones.  Perhaps,  too,  the 
subject  had  an  interest  for  her  that  she  would  not 
own.  "  Would  it  tire  you  to  tell  me  about  it  ?  I 
am  not  particularly  curious,  but  I  have  been  so 
much  bored  to-night  that  a  very  little  would  amuse 
me." 

He  hesitated  for  an  instant.  "It  is  not  that ; 
but  I  don't  know  if  I  am  right  in  telling  you. 
Perhaps  you  would  not  like  him  the  better  for  it ; 
though  he  could  not  help  it.  Shall  I  ?  Well,  it 
was  in  the  second  of  our  Indian  battles,  and  the 
first  time  we  had  really  been  under  fire  ;  before,  it 
A\  as  only  nominal.  We  had  been  sitting  idle  for 
two  hours  or  more,  watching  the  infantry  and  the 
gunners  do  their  work ;  and  right  well  they  did  it. 
The  Sikhs  were  giving  ground  in  all  directions ; 
but  they  began  to  gather  again  on  our  right,  and 
at  last  we  were  told  to  send  out  three  squadrons 
and  break  them  at  three  different  points.  Keene 
was  in  command  of  mine.  I  never  saw  him  look 
so  enchanted  as  he  did  when  the  orders  came 
down.  I  heard  the  chief  warning  him  to  be  cau- 
tious not  to  go  too  far,  (for  there  was  a  good  deal 
of  broken  ground  ahead,)  but  to  wheel  about  as 
soon  as  we  had  got  through  their  lines,  and  to  fall 
back  immediately  on  our  position.      Royston  lis- 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  137 

tened  and  saluted,  but  I  know  he  did  n't  catch  one 
word :  he  kept  looking  over  his  shoulder  all  the 
time  the  Colonel  was  speaking,  as  if  he  grudged 
every  second.  We  were  very  soon  off;  and  almost 
before  I  realized  the  situation,  we  were  closing  in 
on  the  enemy,  wrapped  up  in  our  own  dust  and  in 
their  smoke,  for  the  firing  became  heavy  directly 
we  got  within  range.  Now,  I  don't  think  I  ought 
to  be  telling  you  all  this :  it  is  not  quite  a  woman's 
story." 

"  Please  go  on.  I  like  it."  How  grandly  it 
flashed  up  in  her  cheek  as  she  spoke  —  the  fiery 
Tresilyan  blood  that  had  boiled  in  the  veins  of  so 
many  brilliant  soldiers,  but  through  twenty  gen- 
erations had  never  cooled  down  enough  to  breed 
one  statesman  ! 

He  had  taken  breath  by  this  time.  "  I  won't 
make  it  longer  than  I  can  help ;  but  it  is  difficult 
to  tell  some  things  very  briefly.  It  was  my  first 
real  charge,  you  know :  I  suppose  every  man's 
sensations  are  rather  peculiar  under  such  circum- 
stances. I  did  not  feel  much  alarmed,  —  there 
wasn't  time  for  that,  —  but  the  smoke,  and  the 
noise,  and  the  excitement,  made  me  so  dizzy  that  I 
could  hardly  sit  straight  in  my  saddle.  When  we 
got  within  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  the  Sikhs, 
their  fire  began  to  tell.  I  heard  a  bubbling  smoth- 
ered sort  of  cry  close  behind  me,  and  I  looked 
back  just  in  time  to  see  a  trooper  fall  forward  over 
his   horse's    shoulder,   shot   through    the    throat. 

12* 


138  SWOED    AND    GOWN. 

Several  more  were  hit,  and  our  fellows  began  to 
waver  a  little — not  much.  Just  then  Royston's 
voice  broke  in  :  it  was  so  clear  and  strong  that  it 
set  my  nerves  right  directly,  and  the  dizzy  stifling 
feeling  went  away,  as  it  might  have  done  before  a 
draught  of  fresh  pure  air.  '  Close  up  there,  the 
rear  rank.  Keep  cool,  men !  Steady  with  your 
bridle-hands,  and  strike  fairly  with  the  edge. 
Now!' 

"  He  was  three  lengths  ahead  of  his  squadron, 
and  well  in  amongst  the  enemy,  when  that  last 
word  came  out.  It  was  sharp  work  while  it  lasted, 
for  the  Sikhs  fought  like  wounded  wild-cats :  one 
fixed  his  teeth  in  my  boot,  and  was  dragged  there 
till  my  covering-sergeant  cut  him  loose ;  but  we 
were  soon  through  them.  When  we  had  wheeled, 
and  were  dressing  into  line,  I  caught  sight  of 
Keene's  face.  It  was  so  changed  that  I  should 
hardly  have  known  it :  every  fibre  was  quivering 
with  passion,  and  his  eyes  —  I  've  not  forgotten 
them  yet.  We  ought  to  have  fallen  back  imme- 
diately on  our  old  ground,  but  it  was  so  evident 
he  did  not  mean  this,  that  I  ventured  to  suggest 
to  him  what  our  orders  had  been.  I  was  not  sec- 
ond in  command ;  but  of  my  two  seniors  one  was 
helpless  (the  stupidest  man  you  ever  saw)  and  the 
other  hard  hit.  Royston  faced  round  on  me  with 
a  savage  oath  —  '  How  dare  you  interfere,  sir  ? 
Are  you  in  command  of  this  squadron  ?  '  Then 
he  turned  to  the  troopers :  '  Have  you  had  half 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  139 

eiiougii  yet,  men  ?  /  have  w7.'  I  am  very  sure 
he  had  lost  his  head,  or  he  would  never  have 
spoken  to  me  so,  still  less  have  made  that  last 
appeal,  for  he  was  the  strictest  disciplinarian,  and 
looked  upon  his  men  as  the  merest  machines.  It 
seemed  as  if  the  devil  that  possessed  him  had  gone 
out  into  the  others  too,  for  they  all  shouted  in 
reply  —  not  a  cheery  honest  hurra !  but  a  hoarse 
hungry  roar,  such  as  you  hear  in  wild  beasts'  dens 
before  feeding-time.  An  old  troop-sergeant,  a 
rigid  pious  Presbyterian,  spoke  for  the  rest,  grind- 
ing and  gnashing  his  teeth :  '  We  '11  follow  the 
captain  anywhere  —  follow  him  to  hell ! '  "  (Har- 
ry's voice  had  all  along  been  subdued,  but  it  was 
almost  a  whisper  now :)  "  I  do  hope  those  words 
were  not  reckoned  against  poor  Donald  Macpher- 
son ;  for,  when  we  got  back,  his  was  one  of 
thirteen  empty  saddles.  So  we  broke  up,  and 
went  in  again  at  the  Sikhs,  who  were  collecting 
in  black-looking  knots  and  irregular  squares  all 
round.  It  was  an  indescribable  sort  of  a  melee ^ 
every  man  for  himself,  and  —  I  dare  not  say  — 
God  for  us  all.  I  suppose  I  was  as  bad  as  the 
rest  when  once  fairly  launched,  and  we  all  thought 
we  were  doing  our  duty ;  but  I  should  not  like  to 
have  so  many  lives  on  my  head  and  hand  as  Roy- 
ston  could  count  that  night.  Remember,  ive  suf- 
fered rather  severely. 

''  As  we  took  up  our  position  again  I  saw  the 
Colonel  was  not  well  pleased.     He  had  little  of  the 


140  SWORD   AND   GOWN. 

romance  of  war  about  him,  and  did  not  understand 
his  officers  acting  much  on  their  own  discretion. 
Without  hearing  the  words,  I  could  guess,  from 
the  expression  of  his  hard  old  face,  that  he  came 
down  on  the  squadron-leader  heavily.  When  I 
ranged  up  by  Keene's  side  soon  afterwards,  he 
looked  up  at  me  absently.  'I  was  thinking,'  he 
said  (now,  one  naturally  expected  a  sentiment 
about  the  scene  we  had  just  gone  through,  or  a 
reflection  on  the  injustice  of  chiefs  in  general)  — 
'  I  was  thinking  what  rubbish  those  army-cutlers 
sell,  and  call  it  a  sword-blade.'  He  held  up  a 
sort  of  apology  for  a  sabre,  all  notched  and  bent 
and  blunted ;  then  he  began  to  inquire  if  I  had 
been  hit  at  all.  I  had  escaped  with  hardly  a 
scratch  ;  but  I  saw  an  ugly  cut  above  his  knee,  and 
blood  stealing  down  liis  bridle-arm.  '  Bah  !  it 's 
nothing,'  Royston  observed,  answering  the  direc- 
tion of  my  eyes  ; '  but  —  if  the  tulwar  and  the  repri- 
mand had  both  been  sharper  —  confess,  Hal,  that 
this  time,  Le  jeu  valait  Men  la  chandelle  ?  ^ 

"  We  never  had  a  real  rattling  charge  after  that 
day,  at  least  none  exciting  enough  to  warm  him 
thoroughly.  Now,  I  am  very  sorry  I  have  told 
you  all  this  :  it  is  not  a  nice  story ;  but  it  is  your 
own  fault  if  I  have  bored  you.  Besides,  Madame 
de  Verzenay  will  never  forgive  me  for  monopoliz- 
ing you  so  long.  I  do  think  she  does  me  the 
honor  to  believe  in  a  flirtation." 

Cecil's  heightened  color  and  sparkling  eyes  might 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  141 

have  justified  siicli  a  suspicion  in  a  distant  and 
unprejudiced  observer.  Does  not  this  show  us 
how  very  cautious  we  ought  to  be  in  forming  hasty 
conclusions  from  appearances,  which  are  proverb- 
ially deceptive  ?  I  protest,  I  am  filled  with  re- 
morse and  contrition  while  I  reflect  how  often,  in 
thought,  I  may  have  wronged  and  misjudged  the 
innocent.  I  dare  say  in  many  outwardly  flagrant 
cases  the  offenders  were  only  expatiating  on  the 
merits  or  demerits  of  absent  friends.  Such  a  sub- 
ject is  quite  engrossing  enough  to  excuse  a  certain 
amount  of ''  sitting  out,"  and  some  people  always 
blush  when  they  are  at  all  interested.  The  selec- 
tion of  the  staircase,  the  balcony,  or  the  conserva- 
tory, for  the  discussion,  is  the  merest  atmospheric 
question.  I  subscribe  to  Mr.  Weller's  idea  —  only 
"  turnips  "  are  incredulous.     Vive  la  charite  ! 

After  a  minute  or  two  Miss  Tresilyan  spoke : 
"  No ;  I  don't  think  worse  of  Major  Keene.  As 
you  say,  I  suppose  he  could  not  help  it ;  but  it 
must  be  terrible,  when  passions  that  are  habitually 
restrained  do  break  loose.  No  wonder  that  you 
do  not  wish  to  see  such  a  sight  again.  It  is  very 
different,  reading  of  battles  and  hearing  of  them 
from  one  who  was  an  actor.  Do  you  know,  I 
think  you  have  an  undeveloped  talent  for  narra- 
tion. There,  that  ought  to  console  you,  even  if 
Madame  do  Verzenay  should  asperse  your  char- 
acter." 

At  this  moment  Harry  was  contemplating  the 


142  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

proceedings  of  his  pretty  little  wife  at  the  opposite 
side  of  the  room,  with  an  intense  satisfaction  and 
pride. 

"  If  I  had  yielded  to  temptation,"  he  said,  "  I 
am  sure  Fan  could  not  reproach  me.  She  would 
keep  a  much  greater  sinner  in  countenance.  Miss 
Myrtle  is  a  thousand  times  worse  since  she  mar- 
ried. Just  remark  that  byplay  with  the  handker- 
chief. You  don't  suppose  M.  de  Riberac  cares  one 
straw  about  Yalenciennes  lace  ?  It  makes  one  feel 
Moorish  all  over.  You  need  not  be  surprised  if 
she  is  found  smothered  or  strangled  in  the  morn- 
ing. I  am  '  not  easily  moved  to  jealousy,  but 
being  moved  — '  " 

"  Don't  be  too  murderous,"  laughed  Cecil ; 
"  you  are  certain  to  regret  it  afterwards.  We  will 
reproach  her  as  she  deserves  on  our  way  home. 
Is  it  not  very  late  ? " 

She  wanted  to  be  alone,  to  think  over  what  she 
had  heard  ;  and  in  good  truth,  waking  or  sleeping, 
the  watches  of  that  night  were  crowded  with 
dreams. 

All  this  time,  where  was  Royston  Keene  ?  He 
had  been  really  anxious  to  induce  Miss  Tresilyan 
to  present  herself  at  Madame  de  Yerzenay's,  for 
he  liked  her  well  enough  already  to  feel  a  personal 
interest  in  her  triumphs ;  but,  after  their  inter- 
view in  the  morning,  (though  he  thought  it  prob- 
able that  Fanny's  persuasive  powers  might  prevail,) 
he  had  determined  himself  not  to  go  ;  and  he  did 


SWORD    AND     GOWN.  143 

not  change  his  resolutions  lightly.  Still,  he  could 
not  resist  the  tem^otation  of  getting  one  glimpse  at 
her  in  "  review  order."  If  Cecil  had  been  very 
observant  when  slie  went  down  to  her  carriage,  she 
must  have  noticed  a  tall  figure  standing  back,  half 
masked  by  a  pillar,  whose  eyes  literally  flashed  in 
the  darkness  as  they  fastened  on  her  in  her  passage 
through  the  lighted  hall,  and  drank  in  every  item 
of  her  loveliness.  He  stood  still  for  some  moments 
after  she  was  gone,  and  then  walked  slowly  down 
to  the  Cercle.  While  they  were  talking  about  him 
at  ]\Iadame  de  Yerzenay's,  Royston  was  holding 
his  own  gallantly  at  ecarte  with  Armand  de  Cha- 
teaumesnil,  for  the  honor  of  England  and  —  ten 
napoleons  a  side.  As  was  his  wont,  he  played 
superbly ;  but  he  spoke  seldom,  and  hardly  seemed 
to  hear  the  comments  of  the  crowded  galerie.  In 
truth,  at  some  most  critical  points  —  when  the 
game  was  in  abeyance  at  quatre  a  —  a  delicate 
proud  face,  and  a  shell  wreath  glistening  in  velvet 
hair,  luoidd  rise  before  him,  and  dethrone,  in  his 
thoughts,  the  painted  kings  and  queens.  His  ad- 
versary did  not  fail  to  observe  this ;  but  he  said 
nothing  till  the  play  was  ended,  and  most  of  the 
others  had  left  the  room.  Then  he  laid  his  hand 
on  Keene's  arm,  and  drew  his  head  down  to  the 
level  of  his  own  lips,  and  spoke  low :  — 

"  Mon  camarade,  je  me  rappelle,  d'avoir  vu,  il  y 
a  quelques  ans,  au  Caf^  de  la  Regence,  un  homme 
qui  tenait  tete,  aux  echecs,  a  quatre  concurrens. 


144  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

Les  liabitiies  en  disaient  des  merveilles.  Mais  ce 
n'ctait  qu'uii  bon  bourgeois  apres  tout ;  et,  nous 
autres,  nous  sommes  plus  forts  que  les  bourgeois. 
Vous  avez  joue  ce  soir  les  deux  parties  que,  dit  le 
proverbe,  c'est  presque  impossible  de  remporter 
simultanement ;  et  je  ne  me  tiens  pas  pour  le  seul 
perdant." 

Royston  did  not  seem  in  the  least  inclined  to 
smile  ;  had  he  done  so,  Armand  would  have  been 
bitterly  disappointed.  As  it  was,  he  answered 
very  coldly,  without  a  shade  of  consciousness  on 
his  face  — 

"  Un  compliment  merite  toujours  des  remerci- 
mens,  M.  le  Vicomte,  meme  quand  on  ne  le  com- 
prend  pas.  Pardon,  si  je  vous  engage,  de  ne  pas 
expliquer  plus  clairement  v6tre  allegoric." 

The  other  looked  up  at  him  with  an  expression 
that  might  almost  have  been  mistaken  for  sym- 
pathy. 

"  Parbleu !  "  he  muttered,  "  si  beau  joueui*  mer- 
ite bien  de  gagner !  " 


CHAPTER    XII. 

SOMETIMES,  lying  on  the  cliffs  of  Kerry  or 
Clare,  on  a  cloudless  autumn  day,  when  not 
a  breath  of  wind  is  stirring,  you  may  see  rank 
after  rank  of  heavy  purple  billows  rolling  sullenly 
in  from  the  offing :  these  are  messengers  coming 
to  tell  us  of  battles  fought  a  thousand  leagues  to 
the  westward,  in  which  they  too  have  borne  their 
part.  Before  the  mail  comes  in  we  are  prepared 
to  hear  of  a  storm  that  has  worked  its  wicked  will 
for  nights  and  days,  thundering  among  the  granite 
boulders  of  Labrador,  or  tearing  through  the  fog 
banks  of  Newfoimdland.  This  is  perhaps  the  most 
commonplace  of  all  ancient  comparisons ;  but 
where  will  you  find  so  apt  a  parallel  for  the  vaga- 
ries of  the  human  heart  as  the  phases  of  the  deep, 
false,  beautiful  sea  ? 

On  the  morning  after  Madame  de  Verzenay's 
party,  Cecil  rose  in  a  very  troubled  frame  of  mind. 
She  had  no  feeling  of  irritation  left  against  Royston 
Keene  ;  but  she  was  uneasy,  and  uncomfortable, 
and  loath  to  meet  him.  What  she  had  felt,  and 
what  she  had  heard,  had  moved  her  too  deeply  for 
her  to  resume  at  once  her  wonted  composure.     So 

13  J 


146  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

it  was  that  she  accepted  very  readily  an  invitation 
from  Mrs.  Fullarton,  to  accompany  herself  and 
children  on  a  mild  botanizing  excursion  among  the 
hills.  These  small  fetes  went  a  long  way  with  that 
hard-working  and  meritorious  woman  ;  what  with 
anticipation  and  retrospect,  each  lasted  her  about 
two  months.  Miss  Tresilyan  was  prevented  from 
starting  with  the  rest  of  the  party  ;  but  the  Chap- 
lain himself  was  to  escort  her  to  the  place  of 
rendezvous  ;  his  little  daughter,  Katie,  being  re- 
tained, to  be  invested  with  the  temporary  and 
"local"  rank  of  chaperone  —  a  formality  which, 
in  these  days  of  scanty  faith,  even  married  divines 
are  not  allowed  to  dispense  with.  The  quartette 
was  completed  by  the  mule-driver  —  one  of  those 
remarkable  boys  who  converse  invariably  in  a 
tongue  which  the  beasts  of  burden  seem  to  under- 
stand and  sympathize  with,  but  which,  to  any  other 
creature  whatsoever,  is  absolutely  destitute  of 
meaning.  They  had  some  way  to  go  ;  so  Cecil 
had  taken  up  Katie  before  her  on  her  mule  ;  the 
Pastor  walked  by  her  side,  glozing  (for  the  road 
was  not  very  steep)  on  all  sorts  of  subjects,  gravely 
and  smoothly,  as  was  his  wont.  They  had  crossed 
the  first  line  of  hills,  and  were  descending  into  the 
valley  beyond,  when,  turning  a  sharp  corner  where 
a  projecting  rock  almost  barred  the  path,  they  came 
suddenly  on  Eoyston  Keene.  He  was  lying  at  full 
length ;  his  head  resting  against  the  knotted  root 
of  an  olive,  with  eyes  half  closed,  and  the  cigar 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  147 

between  his  lips,  that  seldom  left  them  wiieii  he 
was  alone.  It  ivas  odd  that  he  should  have  selected 
that  especial  spot  for  the  scene  of  his  siesta.  Cecil 
did  her  very  utmost  to  look  unconcerned :  it  was 
too  provoking,  that  she  could  not  help  blushing ! 
Mr.  Fullarton  evidently  looked  upon  it  in  the  light 
of  an  ambush.  Had  he  ventured  to  give  his 
thoughts  utterance,  certainly  the  ready  text  would 
have  sprung  to  his  lips  —  "Hast  thou  found  me, 

0  mine  enemy  ?  "  If  there  was  "  malice  prepense  " 
there,  the  "  enemy  "  deserved  some  credit  for  the 
perfectly  natural  air  of  surprise  with  which  he  rose 
and  greeted  them. 

"  Are  you  recruiting  after  last  night's  triumphs, 
or  escaping  from  popular  enthusiasm,  Miss  Tresil- 
yan  ?  I  have  met  several  Frenchmen  already  who 
are  quite  childish  about  your  singing.  I  should 
not  advise  you  to  venture  on  the  Terrace  to-day. 
There  might  be  temptations  to  vanity,  which  Mr. 
Fullarton  will  tell  you  are  dangerous." 

She  had  so  completely  made  up  her  mind  to 
some  allusion  to  her  change  of  purpose,  or  to  his 
own  absence,  that  it  was  rather  aggravating  to 
find  him  ignore  both  utterly.  But  she  rallied 
well. 

"  Nothing  half  so  imaginative,  Major  Keene.  It 
was  a  very  stupid  party,  and  I  only  sang  once ;  as, 

1  dare  say,  you  have  heard.  We  are  only  going 
to  help  Mrs.  Fullarton  to  find  some  wild-flowers. 
I  hope  you  have  not  anticipated  us  ?  " 


148  SWORD    AND     GOWN. 

Hejixed  her  with  the  cool  appreciative  look  that 
w^as  harder  to  meet  than  even  his  sneer. 

"  No ;  the  flowers  are  safe  from  me.  I  don't 
care  enough  about  them  to  keep  them ;  and  it  is  a 
pity  to  pick  them  and  throw  them  away  to  wither. 
But  I  would  have  asked  to  be  allowed  to  help  you 
in  your  search,  only  —  I  don't  like  to  spoil  a  pic- 
ture. You  brought  a  very  good  one  to  my  mind 
as  you  turned  the  corner,  a  '  Descent  into  Eg}^pt,' 
that  I  saw  long  ago.  The  blot  there,  I  remember, 
was  a  very  stout  rubicund  Joseph,  not  at  all  wor- 
thy of  the  imperial  Madonna." 

While  he  was  speaking,  he  drew  back,  and  leant 
lazily  against  the  stem  of  the  olive,  with  the  evi- 
dent intention  of  resuming  his  original  posture  as 
soon  as  courtesy  would  allow.  Miss  Tresilyan  could 
not  restrain  a  quick  gesture  of  impatience. 

"As  we  did  not  come  out  to  poser,  Mr.  Fullar- 
ton,  don't  you  think  we  had  better  not  delay  any 
longer  ?  We  are  so  late  already,  that  I  am  sure 
the  rest  of  the  party  will  be  tired  of  waiting." 

Guess  if  her  companion  was  loath  to  obey  her. 

They  moved  on  for  some  time  almost  in  silence. 
Cecil's  thoughts  were  busy  with  a  picture,  too — not 
the  less  vivid  because  only  her  own  imagination  had 
painted  it.  Her  deep  dreamy  eyes  passed  over  the 
landscape  actually  before  them,  without  catching 
one  of  its  details  ;  they  were  looking  on  a  desolate 
stony  plain,  cracked  and  calcined  by  a  fierce  Indian 
sun  —  a  few  plumy  palms  in  the  background,  and 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  149 

the  rocky  bed  of  a  river  half  dried  up  —  in  the 
foreground  a  crowd  of  wild  barbaric  soldiery,  with 
savage  swarthy  features,  bareheaded  or  white- 
turbaned  ;  mingled  with  these  were  horsemen  in 
the  uniform  of  our  light  dragoons,  sabreing  right 
and  left  mercilessly.  In  the  very  centre  of  the 
melee  was  one  figure,  round  which  all  the  others 
seemed  to  group  themselves  as  mere  accessories. 
She  saw  very  distinctly,  the  dark  determmed  face, 
set,  every  line  of  it,  in  an  unspeakable  ferocity, 
with  a  world  of  murderous  meaning  in  the  gleam- 
ing eyes  —  so  distinctly  that  it  drove  out  the  re- 
membrajice  of  the  same  man's  face,  expressive  of 
nothing  but  passionless  indifference,  though  she 
looked  upon  it  but  a  few  minutes  since  under  the 
gray  branches  of  the  olive.  She  almost  heard  his 
clear  imperious  tones,  cheering  on  and  rallying  his 
troopers,  when  a  ruder  voice  broke  her  reverie. 

"  Halle  Id  !  " 

If  there  was  one  thing  that  miserable  muleteer- 
boy  ought  to  have  known  better  than  another,  it 
was  the  insuperable  objection  entertained  by  the 
Provencal  peasant  to  anything  like  trespass  on  his 
territory  (the  touchiness  of  the  proprielaire  bears 
generally  an  inverse  ratio  to  the  extent  of  his  pos- 
sessions) ;  yet,  to  make  a  short  cut  of  about  two 
hundred  yards,  he  had  led  his  party  through  a  gap 
in  the  low  stone  wall  over  a  strip  of  ground  belong- 
ing to  the  very  man  who  was  least  likely  to  over- 
look the  intrusion.      Jean  Duchesne  had  a  bad 

13* 


150  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

name  in  the  neighborhood,  and  deserved  it  thor- 
oughly ;  he  was  surly  enough  when  sober  (which 
was  the  exception),  but  when  drunk  there  were  no 
bounds  to  his  blind,  brutish  ferocity,  and  his  great 
personal  strength  made  him  a  formidable  antago- 
nist. He  was  not  an  agreeable  object  to  contem- 
plate, that  gaunt  giant,  as  he  stood  there  in  his 
squalid,  tattered  dress,  with  rough  matted  hair, 
and  face  flushed  by  recent  intemperance,  and 
flecked  with  livid  stains  of  past  debauches.  You 
may  see  many  such,  crowding  round  the  guillotine 
or  the  tumbril,  in  pictures  of  the  French  Revolu- 
tion. 

It  is  very  odd  that  one  cannot  write  or  read 
those  two  words  without  a  boiling  of  the  blood, 
a  tingling  at  the  fuiger's  ends,  and  a  tighten- 
ing of  the  muscles  of  the  fore-arm  —  ineffably 
absurd  when  excited  by  a  recollection  seventy 
years  old  ?  Yet  so  it  is.  You  may  talk  of  oppres- 
sion till  you  are  tired  ;  you  may  catalogue  all  the 
wrongs  that  Jacques  Bonhomme  endured  before  his 
day  of  retaliation  came  :  you  may  bring  in  your 
pet  illustration  of  "  the  storm  that  was  necessary 
to  clear  the  atmosphere  ;  "  but  you  will  never 
make  some  of  iis  feel  that  the  guilt  of  an  Order  — 
had  it  been  blacker  by  a  hundred  shades  —  pal- 
liated the  Massacre  of  its  Innocents.  If  the  Ma7'' 
quis  and  Mousquetaire  only  had  suffered,  they 
might  have  laid  down  their  lives  cheerfully,  as 
they  would  have  done  the  stake  of  any  other  lost 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  151 

game  :  and,  as  for  the  priests,  it  was  their  privi- 
lege to  be  martyrs.  But  think  of  those  fair  ma- 
trons, and  gentle  girls,  and  delicate  mignonnes^  that 
had  been  petted  from  their  childhood,  cooped  up 
in  the  foul  courts  of  the  Abbaye  and  La  Force, 
with  even  the  necessaries  of  life  begrudged  them, 
till  the  light  died  in  their  eyes  and  the  gloss  faded 
from  their  tresses  ;  and  then  brought  out  to  die  m 
the  chill,  misty  Brumaire  morning,  howled  at  and 
derided  by  the  swarm  of  bloodsuckers,  till  they 
cowered  down,  not  in  fear,  but  sickening  horror, 
welcoming  Samson  and  his  satellites  as  friends  and 
saviours.  Remember,  too,  that  there  was  scarcely 
an  exception  to  the  rule  of  patient  courage,  calm 
self-sacrifice,  and  pride  of  birth  that  never  belied 
itself.  Dubarry  might  shriek  on  the  scaiTold,  but 
the  Rohans  died  mute. 

Of  all  the  digressions  we  have  indulged  in,  this 
is  perhaps  the  most  unwarrantable ;  and,  though 
it  has  relieved  me  unspeakably,  I  hereby  tender  a 
certain  amount  of  contrition  for  the  same.  Reve- 
7ions  a  nos  moutons  —  though  there  was  very  little 
of  the  sheep  in  the  appearance  of  Jean  Duchesne, 
whose  demeanor  (when  we  left  him)  you  will  rec- 
ollect was  decidedly  aggressive.  It  was  evident 
that  the  mule-boy  thought  mischief  was  brewing, 
for  he  twisted  his  features  —  irregular  and  tuynhled 
enough  already  —  into  divers  remarkable  contor- 
tions expressive  of  remorse  and  terror. 

"  Who,  then,  dares  to  trespass  on  my  lands  ?  Do 


152  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

you  think  we  sow  our  crops  for  your  cursed  mule^ 
to  trample  on  ?  " 

He  spoke  in  a  hoarse  thick  voice,  (suggestive 
of  spirituous  liquors,)  and  in  the  disagreeable  Pro- 
vencal dialect,  which  must  have  altered  strangely 
since  the  time  of  the  troubadours :  brief  as  his 
speech  was,  it  found  room  for  more  than  one  of 
those  expletives  which  are  nowhere  so  horribly 
blasphemous  as  in  the  south  of  France. 

Cecil  had  started  slightly  at  the  first  interjec- 
tion, which  broke  her  day-dream,  but  she  was  not 
otherwise  alarmed  or  discomposed :  she  seemed  to 
regard  the  proprietaire  simply  as  an  unpleasant 
obstacle  to  their  progress,  and  glanced  at  Mr.  Ful- 
larton  as  if  she  expected  him  to  clear  it  away. 
Tlie  latter  was  not  good  at  French,  but  he  did 
manage  to  express  their  sorrow  if  they  had  done 
any  harm  unconsciously,  and  their  wish  to  retire 
instantly.  ''Not  before  paying,"  was  the  reply. 
'•'•  Quinze  francs  de  dedommagemens ;  et  pids,filez 
aux  tons  les  diables  !  " 

Women  are  not  expected  to  carry  purses,  or 
any  other  objects  of  simple  utility ;  but  why  Mr. 
Fullarton  should  have  left  his  at  home  on  this 
particular  day  is  between  himself  and  his  own 
conscience.  The  party  very  soon  realized  the  fact 
that  they  could  muster  about  a  hundred  and  fifty 
centimes  among  them. 

Even  kings  and  kaisers,  when  incogniti,  have 
ere  this  been  reduced  to  the  extremest  straits  of 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  153 

ignominy  from  the  want  of  a  few  available  pieces 
of  silver  ;  and  in  ordinary  life,  five  shillings  ready 
at  the  moment  are  frequently  of  more  importance 
than  as  many  hundreds  in  expectancy.  There 
lives  even  now  a  man  who  missed  the  most  charm- 
ing rendezvous  with  which  fortune  ever  favored 
him,  because  he  rode  a  mile  round  to  avoid  a 
turnpike,  not  having  wherewithal  to  pay  it.  Since 
that  disastrous  day  he  is  ever  furnished  with  such 
a  weight  of  small  change  that,  had  Cola  Pesce 
carried  it,  the  strong  swimmer  must  have  sunk 
like  a  stone  —  in  penance,  probably,  even  as  James 
of  Scotland  wore  the  iron  belt.  At  a  pause  in  the 
conversation  you  may  hear  him  rattling  the  cop- 
pers in  his  pocket  moodily,  as  the  spectres  in  old 
romances  rattle  their  chains ;  but  his  remorse  is 
unavailing.  A  fair  chance  once  lost,  Whist  and 
Erycina  never  forgive.  The  beautiful  bird  that 
might  then  have  been  limed  and  tamed  shook  her 
wings  and  flew  away  exultingiy:  far  up  in  air 
the  unlucky  fowler  may  still  sometimes  hear  her 
clear  mocking  carol,  but  she  is  too  near  heaven 
for  his  arts  to  reach,  and  has  escaped  the  toils 
forever. 

On  the  present  occasion  Katie  Fullarton  "  flash- 
ed" her  one  half-franc  with  great  courage  and 
confidence,  but  the  display  of  all  that  small  capi- 
talist's worldly  wealth  did  not  mollify  Jean  Du- 
chesne. He  had  been  lashing  himself  up,  all 
along,  into  such  a  state  of  brutal  ferocity,  that  he 


154  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

would  have  been  disappointed  if  his  extortion  had 
been  immediately  satisfied  ;  so  he  broke  in  sav- 
agely on  the  Chaplain's  confused  excuses  and 
promises  to  settle  everything  at  a  fitting  season : 
"  Tais  toi,  blagueur  !  On  ne  me  floue  pas  ainsi 
avec  des  promesses  ;  je  m'en  fiche  pas  mal.  Au 
moins,  on  me  laissera  un  gage."  His  bloodshot 
eyes  roved  from  one  object  to  another  till  they 
lighted  on  the  parasol  that  Miss  Tresilyan  carried  : 
it  was  of  plain  dark  gray  silk,  with  a  slight  black 
lace  trimming,  but  the  carvings  of  the  ivory  handle 
made  it  of  some  real  value.  Before  any  one  could 
divine  his  intention  he  had  plucked  it  rudely  from 
her  hand. 

Almost  with  the  same  motion  Cecil  set  Katie 
down,  and  sprang  herself  from  the  saddle.  In  her 
eyes  there  was  such  intensity  of  anger  that  the 
drunken  savage  recoiled  a  pace  or  two,  and  for 
the  first  time  in  his  life  felt  something  like  self- 
contempt  :  to  have  saved  her  soul  she  could  not 
have  spoken  one  word,  but  her  silence  was  expres- 
sive enough  as  she  turned  to  Mr.  FuUarton.  It  is 
difficult  to  say  what  line  she  expected  him  to  take, 
—  not  the  voie  de  fait,  certainly  ;  at  least,  if  the 
hypothesis  had  been  put  to  her  when  she  was  cool 
enough  to  consider  it,  she  would  utterly  have  re- 
pudiated such  an  idea.  Perhaps  she  had  a  right 
to  look  for  moral  support,  if  not  for  active  champi- 
onship. 

We  will  not  enter  into  the  vexed  question  of 


SAVORD     AND     GOWN.  155 

physical  courage  and  cowardice  :  it  is  a  truism  to 
say  that  the  latter  may  coexist  with  great  moral 
firmness,  which  is,  of  course,  far  the  superior  qual- 
ity. They  will  tell  you  that,  when  confronted 
with  mere  personal  peril,  a  butcher,  or  grenadier, 
may  match  the  best  of  us.  Possibly :  I  am  not 
going  to  dispute  it.  Only  remember  that  there 
are  occasions  (very  few  in  these  civilized  days) 
when  the  most  refined  of  has-bleus  would  rather 
see  a  strong,  brave,  honest  man  at  her  side,  than 
an  abstruse  philosopher,  a  clever  conversationalist, 
—  ay,  even  than  a  perfect  Christian,  —  whose 
nerves  are  not  to  be  depended  on  ;  when  Par- 
son Adams  would  be  worth  a  bench  of  Bishops. 
We  cannot  all  be  athletes  ;  and,  with  the  best  in- 
tentions, some  of  us  at  such  times  are  liable  to 
defeat  and  discomfiture.  The  most  utterly  fear- 
less man  I  ever  knew  had  a  biceps  that  his  own 
small  fingers  could  have  spanned.  No  woman, 
however,  —  keeping  the  attributes  of  her  sex, — 
would  think  the  worse  of  her  champion  for  being 
trampled  under  foot,  when  he  had  done  his  best  to 
defend  her.  You  know,  their  province  is  to  con- 
sole, and  even  pet  the  vanquished  :  they  make  up 
lint  for  the  wounded,  as  readily  as  they  weave  lau- 
rels for  the  conquerors.  But  when  they  have  once 
seen  a  man  play  the  coward,  the  silver  tongue,  with 
all  its  eloquent  explanation  and  honeyed  pleadings, 
will  hardly  banish  from  their  eyes  the  peculiar 
expression,  wavering  betwixt  compassion  and  con- 


156  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

tempt.  They  may  forgive  cruelty,  or  insolence, 
or  even  treachery  —  in  time  ;  but  they  can  find 
no  palliation,  and  little  sympathy,  for  that  one  un- 
pardonable sin.  Truly,  transgression  in  this  line, 
beyond  a  certain  j^oint,  may  scarcely  be  excused  i 
for  weakness  may  be  controlled,  if  not  cured :  if 
we  cannot  be  dashingly  courageous,  we  may  at  least 
be  decently  collected :  not  all  may  aspire  to  the 
cross  of  valor  ;  but  it  is  not  difficult  to  steer  clear 
of  courts-martial. 

A  man  is  not  pleasant  to  contemplate  when  ter- 
ror has  driven  out  all  self-command ;  so  we  will 
not  draw  Mr.  Fullarton's  picture:  he  could  scarcely 
stammer  out  words  enough  to  suggest  an  immedi- 
ate retreat.  It  was  painful  —  7iot  ludicrous  —  to 
see  how  justly  his  own  child  appreciated  the  posi- 
tion :  the  little  thing  left  her  father's  side  instinc- 
tively, and  clung  for  protection  to  Cecil  Tresilyan. 
The  latter  saw  instantly  how  matters  stood  ;  and 
if  the  glance  she  cast  on  the  aggressor  was  not 
pleasant  to  meet,  far  more  unendurable  was  that 
which  fell  upon  her  unlucky  companion :  it  was 
piercing  enough  to  penetrate  the  strong  armor  of 
his  wonderful  self-complacency,  and  to  rankle  for 
many  a  day.  She  struck  her  small  foot  on  the 
ground,  wdth  a  gesture  of  imperial  disdain.  Even 
so  the  Scythian  Amazon  might  have  spurned  the 
livid  head  of  Cyrus  the  Great  King. 

"  I  will  not  stir,  till  I  see  if  no  one  will  come 
who  can  take  my  part.     Ah  —  I  would  give  —  " 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  157 

"  Don't  be  rash,  Miss  Tresilyan.  You  might  be 
taken  at  your  word." 

Cecil  turned  quickly,  with  a  delicious  sense  of 
confidence  and  triumph  thrilling  through  every 
fibre  of  her  frame :  on  the  top  of  the  rock  that 
rose  ten  feet  high,  like  a  wall,  on  tlieir  right, 
stood  Royston  Keene.  A  more  pacific  character 
would  have  dared  a  greater  danger,  for  the  reward 
and  the  promise  of  her  eyes. 

He  took  in  the  whole  scene  at  a  glance,  (per- 
haps he  had  heard  more  than  he  chose  to  own,) 
and,  swinging  himself  lightly  down,  strode  right 
across  the  potager^  with  a  disregard  of  the  propri- 
etor's interests  and  feelings  refreshing  to  see. 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  the  ancient  positions  have 
been  reversed.  You  have  been  spoiled  by  the 
Egyptians,  Miss  Tresilyan.  Shall  we  try  the  sec- 
ular arm  ?  You  have  scarcely  been  safe  under 
the  protection  of  the  church  —  militant. ^^ 

There  was  a  pause  before  the  last  word,  and  it 
was  unpleasantly  emphasized.  Then  he  advanced 
a  step  or  two  towards  the  Frenchman,  without 
waiting  for  a  reply,  and  spoke  in  a  totally  differ- 
ent tone  —  brief  and  imperative  —  "  Tu  vas  me 
rend  re  ga?^^ 

Duchesne  had  been  rather  startled  by  the  appa- 
rition of  the  new-comer,  and,  if  he  had  been  cool 
enough  to  reflect,  would  not  have  fancied  him  as 
an  antagonist ;  but  his  passion  blinded  him,  and 
strong  drink  had  heated  his  brutal  blood  above 

14 


158  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

boiling  point ;  he  ground  his  teeth,  as  he  answered, 
till  the  foam  ran  down  — 

"  Le  rendre — a  toi  —  chien  d' Anglais  ?  je  m'en 
garderai  bien.  Si  la  belle  demoiselle  vent  le  ra- 
voir,  elle  viendra  demain,  me  prior  bien  gentiment ; 
et  elle  viendra  —  seule." 

Now,  Royston  Keene  was  thoroughly  impreg- 
nated with  the  bitterest  of  aristocratic  prejudices : 
no  man  alive  more  utterly  ignored  the  doctrines  of 
liberty,  equality,  and  fraternity ;  besides  this,  he 
had  acquired,  to  an  unusual  extent,  the  overbear- 
ing tone  and  demeanor  which  the  habit  of  having 
soldiers  under  them  is  supposed  to  bring,  too  com- 
monly, to  modern  centurions.  He  actually  experi- 
enced a  "fresh  sensation"  as  he  heard  the  insult 
levelled  by  those  coarse  plebeian  lips  at  the  woman 
"  he  delighted  to  honor."  His  swarthy  face  grew 
white  down  to  the  lips,  whose  quivering  the  heavy 
moustache  could  not  quite  conceal ;  and  he  shiv- 
ered from  head  to  foot  where  he  stood.  Jean 
Duchesne  thought  he  detected  the  familiar  signs 
of  a  terror  he  had  often  inspired.  "  Tu  as  peur 
done  ?  Tu  tressailles  deja,  blanc-bec  !  Tonnerre 
de  Di !  tu  as  raison."  Not  a  trace  of  passion  lin- 
gered in  the  Major's  clear  cold  voice,  that  fell  ujdou 
the  ear  with  the  ring  of  steel.  "  On  ne  tressaille 
pas,  quand  on  est  sur  de  gagner.  Regarde  done 
en  arriere." 

Involuntarily,  the  Frenchman  looked  behind 
him,  expecting  a  fresh  adversary  from  that  quar- 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  159 

ter.  As  he  turned  his  head,  Keene  sprang  forward, 
and  pkicked  the  parasol  from  his  grasp ;  in  one 
second  he  had  laid  it  lightly  in  its  owner's  hand ; 
in  the  next,  he  had  returned  to  his  position,  and 
stood,  ready  for  the  onset,  motionless  as  the  marble 
Creugas. 

He  had  not  long  to  wait.  Even  a  "  well-condi- 
tioned" Gaul  does  not  like  being  outwitted ;  and 
the  successful  ruse  exasperated  Duchesne  into  in- 
sanity. Roaring  like  a  wild  beast  that  has  missed 
its  spring,  he  rushed  in  to  grapple.  Eoyston  never 
moved  a  finger  till  the  enemy  was  well  within  dis- 
tance ;  then,  slinging  his  left  hand  straight  out 
from  the  hip,  he  "  let  him  have  it"  fairly  between 
the  eyes. 

One  blow,  —  only  one,  —  but  a  blow  that,  had  it 
been  stricken  in  the  days  of  Olympian  and  Ne- 
mean  contests,  —  where  Pindar  and  his  peers  were 
"reporters,"  —  might  well  have  earned  a  Dithy- 
ramb ;  a  blow  that  would  have  gladdened  the  sul- 
len spirit  of  the  old  gladiator  who  trained  the  Cool 
Captain,  if  the  prophet  had  lived  to  see  his  augu- 
ries fulfilled ;  or  if  sights  and  sounds  from  upper 
earth  could  penetrate  to  the  limbo  of  defunct  ath- 
letge.  Nothing  born  of  woman  could  have  stood 
before  it ;  and  it  was  small  blame  to  Jean  Du- 
chesne that  he  dropped  like  a  log  in  his  tracks.  In 
another  instant  his  conqueror  had  one  knee  on  the 
chest  of  the  fallen  man,  and  both  hands  were  grip- 
ing his  throat. 


IGO  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

His  own  face  was  fearfully  changed.  It  wore 
an  expression  that  has  been  very  often  seen  in  the 
sixty  centuries  that  have  passed  since  Cain  struck 
his  brother  down,  but  has  very  seldom  been  de- 
scribed ;  for  the  dead  tell  no  tales  beyond  what 
their  features,  stiffened  in  hopeless  terror,  may 
betray.  It  has  been  seen  on  lost  battle-fields, — 
in  the  streets  of  cities  given  up  to  pillage,  when 
the  storming  is  just  over,  and  the  carnage  begun, — 
on  desolate  hill-sides,  —  in  dark  forest-glades,  —  in 
chambers  of  lonely  houses,  strongly  but  vainly 
barred,  —  in  every  place  where  men  in  the  death 
agony  have  "  cried  and  there  was  none  to  help 
them."  It  was  full  time  for  some  one  to  interfere, 
when  the  Devil  had  entered  into  Royston  Keene. 

From  the  moment  that  affairs  had  assumed  such 
a  different  aspect,  Mr.  Fullarton  had  gradually  been 
recovering  his  composure,  and  by  this  time  was 
quite  himself  again.  He  advanced  confidently,  and, 
laying  his  hand  on  the  Major's  shoulder,  with  an 
imposing  air,  and  with  his  best  pulpit-manner, 
enunciated,  "  Thou  shalt  do  no  murder  !  "  The 
latter,  as  we  have  already  said,  was  utterly  beside 
himself;  but  even  this  cannot  excuse  the  abrupt, 
impatient  movement  that  sent  such  an  eminent 
divine  reeling  three  paces  back.  The  rigid  lips 
only  twisted  themselves  into  an  evil  sneer,  and  the 
cruel  fingers  tightened  their  gripe,  till  the  features 
of  the  prostrate  wretch  grew  convulsed  and  black. 

The  whole  scene  had  passed  so  quickly,  though 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  161 

it  takes  so  long  to  describe,  (some  of  us  never  can 
succeed  in  stenography,)  that  Cecil  felt  perfectly 
lost  in  a  whirl  of  conflicting  emotions,  till  she  saw 
the  face  in  life  before  her,  that  she  had  been  fancy- 
ing ever  since  last  night.  A  great  fear  came  over 
her,  but  she  overcame  it,  and  her  woman's  instinct 
told  her  what  to  do.  She  laid  her  little  hand  upon 
Keene's  arm  before  he  was  aware  that  she  was 
near,  and  whispered  so  that  only  he  could  hear, 
"  For  my  sake."  Only  these  three  simple  words  ; 
but  the  exorcism  was  complete. 

Again  a  shiver  ran  all  through  the  hardy  frame  ; 
and  for  once  Love  was  more  powerful  than  Hate. 
He  loosed  his  hold,  —  slowly,  though,  and  reluc- 
tantly,—  and  rose  to  his  feet,  passing  his  hand 
over  his  eyes  in  a  strange,  bewildered  way  ;  but 
in  five  seconds  his  wonderful  self-command  as- 
serted itself,  and  he  spoke  as  coolly  as  ever.  "  A 
thousand  pardons.  One  does  forget  one's  self  some- 
times, when  the  canaille  are  provoking ;  but  I  ought 
to  have  remembered  what  was  due  to  you,'''* 

Though  she  could  not  speak,  she  tried  to  smile ; 
but  strong  reaction  had  come  on.  In  the  pale 
woman  that  trembled  so  painfully,  it  was  hard  to 
recognize  proud  Cecil  Tresilyan.  Royston  was 
watching  her  narrowly  ;  and  his  tone  softened  till 
it  made  his  simple  words  a  caress.  "  Don't  make 
me  more  angry  with  myself  than  I  deserve.  In- 
deed, there  is  nothing  more  to  alarm  or  distress 
you.    If  you  would  only  forgive  me  !  "    He  helped 

14*  K 


162  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

her  into  the  saddle  as  he  spoke,  and  she  submitted 
passively.  But  the  happy  feeling  of  perfect  trust 
in  him  was  coming  back  fast. 

Jean  Duchesne  had  somewhat  recovered  from 
his  stupor,  and  was  leaning  on  one  arm,  panting 
heavily,  still  in  great  pain  ;  but  he  was  inured  to 
all  sorts  of  broils,  and  evidently  he  would  soon 
recover  from  the  effects  of  this  one,  though  he  had 
never  been  so  roughly  handled.  It  was  sheer  ter- 
ror that  made  him  lie  so  still :  he  dared  move  no 
more  than  a  whipped  hound  while  in  the  presence 
of  his  late  opponent. 

The  others  turned  slowly  homewards ;  for  it  is 
needless  to  say  the  wild-flowers  and  the  rendezvous 
were  forgotten.  As  they  turned  the  corner  which 
cut  off  the  view  of  Duchesne's  ground,  Royston 
looked  back  once,  longingly.  It  was  well  for 
Cecil's  nerves,  in  their  disturbed  state,  that  she 
did  not  catch  that  Parthian  glance.  Ah,  those 
ungovernable  eyes  !  They  were  gleaming  with  the 
expression  that  Kirkpatrick's  may  have  worn, — 
when  he  turned  into  the  chapel  where  the  Red 
Comyn  lay,  —  growling,  "  J  mak  sicker." 

None  of  the  party  were  much  disposed  for  con- 
versation ;  for  even  Mr.  Fullarton  did  not  feel 
equal  to  "improving  the  occasion"  just  then. 
Cecil  broke  the  silence  at  last;  it  was  where  the 
road  was  so  narrow  that  only  two  could  walk 
abreast :  Royston  never  left  her  bridle-rein.  "  You 
must  fancy  that  I  have  thanked  you :  I  cannot  do 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  163 

SO  properly  now.  It  is  strange,  though,  that  you 
should  have  come  up  so  very  opportunely.  Was  it 
a  presentiment  that  made  you  follow  us  ?  " 

The  answer  was  so  low  that  she  had  almost  to 
guess  at  it  from  the  motion  of  his  lips,  — "  Have 
you  forgotten  Xapoleon's  last  rallying-cry,  '  Qui  m' 
aime  me  suit  .^  '  "  Xo  wonder  that  his  pulse  should 
throb  exultantly,  as  he  saw  the  bright,  beautiful 
blush  that  swept  over  his  companion's  cheek  and 
brow !  They  had  almost  reached  home  when  he 
spoke  again,  — "  You  would  have  been  liberal  in 
your  promises  twenty  minutes  ago,  if  I  had  not 
stopped  you,  Mss  Tresilyan.  I  should  like  to  have 
some  memorial  of  to-day.  Very  childish,  is  it  not  ? 
Will  you  give  me  this  ?  I  deserve  something  for 
saving  —  that  pretty  parasol."  He  touched  the 
glove  she  had  just  drawn  off,  —  a  light  riding- 
gauntlet,  fancifully  cut,  and  embroidered  with  silk. 
Cecil  hesitated,  though  she  would  have  been  loath  to 
refuse  liim  anything  just  then.  She  felt  as  most 
proud,  sensitive  women  feel,  the  first  time  they  are 
asked  for  what  may  be  interpreted  into  a  gage 
d^ amour.  The  tribute  may  be  nominal,  and  the 
suzerain  may  be  lenient  indeed  ;  but  none  the  less 
does  it  establish  vassalage. 

Royston  interpreted  her  reluctance  aright,  and 
went  on,  with  an  earnestness  very  unusual  with 
him:  for  once  it  was  honest  and  true.  "Pray 
trust  me.  The  moment  I  cease  to  value  that 
souvenir  as  it  deserves,  on  my  honor  I  will  return 
it." 


164  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

He  was  fated  to  triumph  all  through  that  day. 
When  Cecil  was  alone  she  put  something  away 
with  a  very  unnecessary  carefulness ;  for  surely 
nothing  can  be  more  valueless  than  a  glove  that 
has  lost  its  mate. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

I  AM  almost  asliamed  to  confess  how  deeply  the 
scene  she  had  witnessed  affected  Cecil  Tresil- 
yan.  The  exhibition  of  Keene's  fierce  temper 
ought  certainly  to  have  warned,  if  it  did  not  dis- 
gust her.  She  coiild  only  think  —  "It  was  for 
my  sake  that  he  was  so  angry  ;  and  he  yielded  to 
my  first  word." 

There  is  rather  a  heavy  run  just  now  against  the 
"  physical  force  "  doctrine.  It  seems  to  me  that 
some  of  its  opponents  are  somewhat  hypercritical. 
For  many,  many  years,  romancists  persisted  in 
attributing  to  their  prmcipal  heroes  every  point 
of  bodily  perfection  and  accomplishment ;  no  one 
thought  then  of  cavilling  at  such  a  well-understood 
and  established  type.  That  most  fertile  and  meri- 
torious of  writers,  for  instance,  Mr.  C  P.  P.  James, 
invariably  makes  his  jeun  premier  at  least  moder- 
ately athletic ;  so  much  so,  that  when  he  has  the 
villain  of  the  tale  at  his  sword' s-point,  we  feel  a 
comfortable  confidence  that  virtue  will  triumph  as 
it  deserves.  As  such  a  contingency  is  certain  to 
occur  twice  or  thrice  in  the  course  of  the  narrative, 
a  nervous  reader  is  spared  much  anxiety  and  trou- 


166  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

ble  of  mind  by  this  satisfactory  arrangement.  Nous 
avons  change  tout  cela.  Modern  refinement  re- 
quires that  the  chief  character  shall  be  made  inter- 
esting in  spite  of  his  being  dwarfish,  plain-featured, 
and  a  \dctim  to  jxilmonary  or  some  more  prosaic 
disease.  Clearly  we  are  right.  What  is  the  use 
of  advancing  civilization  if  it  does  not  correct  our 
taste  ?  What  have  we  to  do  with  the  "  manners 
and  customs  of  the  English  "  in  the  eighteenth 
century,  or  with  the  fictions  that  beguiled  our  boy- 
hood ?  Let  our  motto  still  be  "  Forward  ;  "  we 
have  pleasures  of  which  our  grandsires  never 
dreamt,  and  inventions  that  they  were  mexcusable 
in  ignoring.  We  are  so  great  that  we  can  afford 
to  be  generous.  Let  them  sleep  well,  those  honest 
but  benighted  Ancients,  who  went  down  to  their 
graves  unconscious  of  "  Aunt  Sally,"  and  perhaps 
never  properly  appreciated  caviare  ! 

It  is  true  that  there  are  some  writers  —  not  the 
weakest  —  who  still  cling  to  the  old-fashioned 
mould.  Putting  Lancelot  and  Amyas  out  of  the 
question,  I  think  I  would  sooner  have  "  stood  up  " 
to  most  heroes  of  romance  than  to  sturdy  Adam 
Bede.  It  can't  be  a  question  of  religion  or  mo- 
rality ;  for  "  muscular  Christianity^^  i^  the  stock- 
sarcasm  of  the  opposite  party :  it  must  be  a  ques- 
tion of  good  taste.  Well,  ancient  Greece  is  sup- 
posed to  have  had  some  floating  ideas  on  that 
subject ;  and  she  deified  Strength.  It  is  perfectly 
true,  that  to  thrash  a  prize-fighter  unnecessarily,  is 


SWORD     AND     GOWN.  167 

not  a  Tirtuous  or  glorious  action  ;  but  I  contend 
that  the  capability  of  doing  so  is  an  admirable  and 
enviable  attribute.  There  are  grades  of  physical 
as  well  as  of  moral  perfection ;  and,  after  all,  the 
same  Hand  created  both. 

Have  I  been  replying  against  the  critics  ?  Ah  sit 
omen  I  They  are  more  often  right,  I  fear,  than 
authors  are  willing  to  allow  ;  for  it  is  aggravating 
to  have  one's  pet  bits  of  pathos  put  between  in- 
verted commas  for  the  world  in  general  to  make  a 
mock  at,  (we  could  hardly  write  them  down  with- 
out tears  in  our  eyes,)  and  to  have  our  story  con- 
densed into  a  few  clever,  pithy  sentences,  (all  in 
the  present  tense,)  till  its  weakness  becomes  pain- 
fully apparent.  More  than  this,  our  candid  friends 
are  impalpable.  Real  life  can  furnish  us  with 
enough  substantial  opponents  for  us  not  to  trouble 
ourselves  about  Junius.  Neither  in  war  nor  love 
is  it  expedient  to  grasp  at  shadows.  Ah,  Mr. 
Reade,  why  were  you  not  warned  by  Ixion  ? 

One  thing  is  certain,  —  however  sound  your  ar- 
guments in  depreciation  of  personal  prowess  may 
be,  you  will  never  gain  an  unanimous  feminine 
verdict.  It  must  be  an  extraordinary  exhibition 
of  mental  excellence  that  will  really  interest  the 
generality  of  our  sisters,  for  the  moment,  as  deeply 
as  a  very  ordinary  feat  of  strength  or  skill.  It  is 
not  that  they  cannot  thoroughly  appreciate  recti- 
tude of  feeling,  brilliancy  of  conversation,  and  dis- 
tinguished talent ;  but  remember  the  hackneyed 
(quotation,  — 


168  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

Segnius  irritant  animura  dcmissa  per  aures, 
Quam  qu£e  sunt  oculis  subjecta  fidelibus. 

If  you  want  a  proof  of  the  correctness  of  Hor- 
ace's opinion,  go  up  to  "  Lord's  "  this  month,  and 
watch  the  flutter  among  the  fair  spectators,  just 
after  a  "  forward  drive  "  over  the  Pavilion ;  or, 
better  still,  the  next  time  the  "  Grand  Military  " 
comes  off  at  Warwick,  mark  the  reception  that  the 
man  who  rides  a  winner  will  meet  with  in  the 
Stand.  Conventionality  has  done  a  good  deal,  but 
it  has  not  refined  away  all  the  frank,  impulsive 
woman-nature  yet.  The  knights  are  dust,  and 
their  good  swords  rust ;  but  dame  and  demoiselle 
are  very  much  the  same  as  they  were  in  the  old 
days,  when  the  Queen  of  Scots  could  sing  :  — 

How  they  revelled  through  the  summer  night, 

And  by  day  made  lance-shafts  flee, 
For  Mary  Beatoun,  and  Mary  Seatoun, 

And  Mary  Fleming,  and  me. 

Will  this  long  and  rather  rash  tirade  in  the 
least  excuse  Cecil  Tresilyan  ?  Of  course  not.  My 
poor  heroine  !  It  was  very  unnecessary  —  -  that 
advertisement  that  she  was  not  superior  to  the 
weakness  of  her  sex ;  for  it  seems  to  me,  with 
every  chapter,  she  has  been  growing  more  fallible 
and  frail.  She  was  utterly  incapable  of  being  at 
all  demonstrative  or  "  gushing ;  "  but  her  prefer- 
ence for  Royston  Keene  was  now  quite  undis- 
guised. 

Mrs.  Danvers  was  bitterly  exasperated.   It  would 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  1G9 

be  unjust  to  deny  that  she  was  greatly  actuated  by 
a  sincere  interest  in  her  ci-devant  pupil's  welfare : 
but  other  feelings  were  at  work. 

It  is  very  remarkable  how  a  perfectly  well-prin- 
cipled woman  will  connive  at  what  she  cannot  ap- 
prove, so  long  as  she  is  taken  unreservedly  into 
confidence  :  but  when  once  one  secret  is  kept  back, 
the  danger  of  her  antagonism  begins :  the  magic 
draught  that  has  lulled  the  vigilant  Gryphon  to 
sleep  loses  its  potency  ;  the  guardian  of  the  treas- 
ure awakes  —  more  savage  because  conscious  of 
a  dereliction  in  duty  —  and  woe  to  the  Arimas- 
pian !  The  cold,  pale,  chaste •  Moon  comes  forth 
from  behind  the  cloud,  determined  to  reveal  every 
iota  of  transgression :  no  further  chance  of  conceal- 
ment here  —  Reparat  sua  cornua  Phcebe. 

So,  to  the  utmost  of  her  small  powers,  Bessie  did 
endeavor  to  thwart  and  counteract  the  adversary. 
Her  line  was  consistently  plaintive.  In  season  and 
out  of  season,  she  whined  and  wept  profusely. 
This  was  the  last  resource  of  her  simple  strategy : 
when  the  enemy  was  getting  too  strong  to  be  met 
in  open  field,  she  adopted  the  Dutch  plan  of  open- 
ing the  sluices  and  trying  to  drown  him.  It  is 
painful  to  be  obliged  to  state  that  the  inundation 
did  not  greatly  avail.  As  she  had  done  from  the 
first,  Cecil  declined  to  make  any  confidences,  or 
indeed  to  discuss  the  question  at  all. 

Mr.  Fullarton,  too,  felt  keenly  the  defection  of 
a  promising   proselyte.      Since   that   unfortunate 

15 


170  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

afternoon,  Miss  Tresilyan  had  been  perfectly  civil, 
but  always  very  cold ;  and  he  could  not  but  be 
aware  that  he  had  lost  ground  then  that  he  never 
could  hope  to  regain.  The  divine  must  have  been 
very  desperate,  when  he  ventured  to  attack  that 
impracticable  brother.  It  was  not  a  judicious 
move  ;  nor  would  any  one  have  tried  it  who  knew 
Dick  Tresilyan.  It  was  not  only  that  he  liked  and 
admired  Royston  Keene,  but  he  had  a  blind  confi- 
dence in  his  sister  that  nothing  on  earth  could  dis- 
turb :  the  evidence  of  his  own  senses  would  not 
have  affected  it  in  the  least.  ''  Whatever  she  does 
is  right,"  he  thought ;  and  he  clung  to  that  idea, 
as  many  other  true  believers  will  do  to  a  creed  that 
they  cannot  understand.  So  when  the  question 
was  broached  he  was  not  very  angry,  (for  he  did 
more  than  justice  to  the  Chaplain's  sense  of  duty,) 
but  he  stubbornly  declined  to  enter  upon  it  at 
all.  Mr.  Fullarton  was  so  provoked  that  he  was 
goaded  into  a  taunt  that  he  ought  to  have  been 
ashamed  of. 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right,"  he  said ;  "  Major 
Keene  is  so  formidable  an  adversary,  that  it  is 
hardly  safe  to  interfere  with  him."  (These  "  men 
of  peace  "  —  quand  Us  s''y  prennent  I  I  believe 
the  most  exasperating  man  in  England,  at  this 
moment,  to  be  an  influential  Quaker.) 

Dick  Tresilyan  took  a  long  time  (as  was  his 
wont)  in  finding  out  what  was  meant ;  when  he 
did,  even  his  limited  intellect  appreciated  its  bad 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  171 

taste  and  absurdity.  A  hundred  sarcasms  would 
not  have  disconcerted  the  Pastor  so  completely  as 
his  honest  hearty  laugh. 

"  Ah  !  you  think  I  'm  afraid  of  him  ?  Xo  — 
they  don't  breed  cowards  where  I  come  from.  I 
never  heard  that  idea  but  once  before  :  that  was  at 
the  Truro  fair.  I  wasn't  in  very  good  company, 
and  they  '  planted '  a  big  miner  on  me  at  last. 
He  wanted  me  to  wrestle,  and  when  I  would  n't, 
he  said — just  what  you  did.  But  I  remember 
all  the  others  laughed  at  him.  They  know  us  in 
those  parts,  you  see.  He  'd  better  have  kept  quiet ; 
for  though  he  puzzled  me  at  first  with  a  '  back- 
trick  '  he  had,  I  knew  more  than  he  did,  and  he 
got  an  awkward  fall :  I  don't  think  he  '11  ever  do 
a  good  day's  work  again."  He  paused,  and  his 
brow  darkened  strangely,  and  all  his  face  changed, 
till  it  resembled  more  closely  than  it  had  often 
done  the  portraits  of  some  of  the  ^'  bitter,  bad 
Tresilyans."  '^  I  suppose  you  mean  well,  Mr. 
Fullarton,  but  I  'm  not  going  to  thank  you.  We 
can  manage  our  affairs  without  your  meddling ; 
and  if  you  're  wise  you  '11  leave  us  alone."  It  will 
be  seen  that  the  Chaplain  did  not  take  much  by  his 
motion. 

Neither  was  Fanny  Molyneux  well  satisfied  with 
the  turn  affairs  had  taken  lately.  That  poor  little 
"  white  witch  "  was  really  alarmed  by  the  unruly 
character  of  the  spirit  that  she  had  been  anxious 
to  raise  :  she  did  not  know  the  proper  formula  for 


172  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

sending  it  back  to  its  own  place  ;  and,  if  she  had, 
the  stubborn  demon  would  only  have  mocked  at 
her  simple  incantations.  Though  she  loved  Cecil 
dearly,  she  was  too  much  in  awe  of  her  to  venture 
upon  remonstrance  or  warning  ;  indeed,  the  few 
mild  hints  that  she  did  throw  out  had  not  met  with 
such  success  as  to  tempt  her  to  follow  them  up. 
So  she  was,  perforce,  reduced  to  an  unarmed  neu- 
trality. 

Her  husband  was  perhaps  the  most  thoroughly 
uncomfortable  of  the  party.  He  knew  the  circum- 
stances and  bearings  of  the  question  better  than 
any  one  else,  and  would  have  sacrificed  a  good 
deal  ("  his  right  hand,"  I  believe,  is  the  proper 
phrase)  to  have  averted  the  probable  result.  But 
he  had  not  sufficient  strength  of  mind  to  take  the 
decided  measures  that  might  have  been  of  some 
avail ;  in  fact,  he  had  a  vague  idea,  that  to  act  on 
the  offensive  against  his  old  comrade  would  be 
unpardonable  treachery.  Arguing  with  the  latter 
was  simply  absurd ;  for  this  reason,  if  for  no  other, 
that  from  the  moment  his  feelings  became  really 
interested,  no  amount  of  diplomacy  would  have 
induced  him  to  enter  upon  the  subject.  Harry 
went  about  with  a  miserable,  helpless  sense  of 
complicity  weighing  him  down,  which  was  much 
aggravated  by  a  few  words  which  dropped  one 
morning  from  Dick  Tresilyan. 

Dick  had  been  dining  tete-d-tete  with  Keene, 
on  the  previous  evening,  after  a  hard  day's  snipe 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  173 

shooting,  and  bore  evident  traces  about  him  of  a 
heavy  niglit,  —  a  fact  which  he  lost  no  time  in 
alhiding  to,  not  without  a  certain  pride,  like  the 
man  in  Congreve's  play,  who  exults  in  having 
"  been  drunk  in  excellent  company."  "  We  had 
a  very  big  drink,"  he  said,  confidentially,  "and  the 
Major  got  more  than  his  allowance.  He  didn't 
know  what  he  was  talking  about,  at  last ;  and  he 
told  me  more  of  his  affairs  than  most  people  know, 
I  think:  of  course,  I'm  as  safe  as  a  church;"  — 
and  Dick  made  a  gallant  but  abortive  attempt  to 
wink  with  one  of  his  swollen  eyelids. 

Molyneux  shrank  away  from  the  speaker  with 
something  very  like  a  suppressed  groan,  —  he  had 
heard  that  said  before,  and  remembered  what  came 
of  it.  Credulity  was  as  dangerous,  when  men 
thought  Royston  Keene  had  lost  his  head,  as 
when  women  flattered  themselves  he  had  lost  his 
heart. 


15* 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

IF  you  will  be  good  enough  to  look  back  on  the 
one  Romance  in  which,  like  the  rest  of  the 
world,  you  probably  indulged  yourself,  you  will 
remember,  perhaps  more  distinctly  than  any  other 
feature,  the  presentiment  which  haunted  you  from 
the  very  beginning.  "We  were  absurdly  sanguine 
and  hopeful  in  those  days,  —  full  of  chivalrous 
resolves  and  unlimited  aspirations  ;  but  still  the 
feeling  would  come  back  —  if  indeed  it  ever  left 
us  —  that  in  the  dim  background  there  was  diffi- 
culty and  danger.  We  were  not  surprised  when 
the  small  white  speck  rose  out  of  the  sea,  and  it 
needed  no  prophet  to  tell  us  then,  that  the  heavens 
would  soon  be  black  with  clouds,  and  that  there 
would  be  a  great  rain  (which  indeed  was  the 
case,  for  there  ensued  a  long  continuance  of  wet 
weather ;  it  was  a  very  tearful  season) .  Oddly 
enough,  that  same  presentiment  did  not  make 
us  particularly  melancholy  or  uncomfortable,  but 
seemed  rather  to  give  a  zest  to  our  simple  pleas- 
ures, relieving  them  from  any  tinge  of  sameness 
or  insipidity.  When  the  denouement  came  we  did 
not  exactly  see  things  in  the  same  light,  certainly, 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  175 

and  it  took  some  time  to  settle  thoroughly  down 
into  our  present  theory,  that  "  it  was  all  for  the 
best." 

It  is  the  old  story  of  Thomas  the  Rhymer  over 
and  oyer  again  (we  were  all  Rhymers  once).  The 
lover  knows  that  there  is  peril  in  the  path,  but  not 
the  less  joyously  he  strides  on  by  the  side  of  the 
beautiful  Queen.  How  sweetly  they  ring,  the 
silver  bells  on  the  neck  of  the  milk-white  palfrey  ; 
not  so  sweetly,  though,  as  her  low,  musical  tones. 
So  on  they  fare,  till  the  world  of  realities  is  left  far 
behind,  and  they  find  themselves  at  their  journey's 
end.  It  is  very  happy,  that  year  spent  in  Her 
kingdom ;  but  so  like  a  dream,  that  he  does  not 
appreciate  its  pleasures  so  well  at  the  moment  as 
he  will  in  the  weary  after-years.  Yet  the  waking 
came  too  soon.  The  sojourner  had  not  half  grown 
tired  of  his  resting-place  ;  the  bloom  has  not  faded 
on  the  wondrous  fruits  and  flowers  ;  the  strangely 
sweet  wine  has  not  lost  its  savor,  when  it  is  time 
for  him  to  be  gone,  for  a  dreadful  whisper  runs 
through  the  company  that  to-morrow  the  teind  to 
Hell  must  be  paid.  Well,  the  black  Tax-gatherer 
is  baulked  by  a  day,  and  the  wanderer  is  back  at 
Ercildoune  again.  Very  dreary  looks  the  gray,  bare 
moorland.  Do  they  call  that  foliage  on  the  stunted 
fir-trees  ?  It  is  only  the  ghost  of  a  forest.  The 
trim  parterres  have  no  beauty  or  fragrance  for 
one  that  has  lingered  in  more  glorious  gardens 
and  plucked  redder  roses.     Tabret  and  viol  jangle 


176  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

harshly  in  the  ears  that  have  rioted  in  melodies 
made  by  fairy  harpers.  The  village  maidens  may 
be  comely,  but  they  are  somewhat  clumsy  withal ; 
the  earthen  floor  trembles  under  their  feet  when 
they  lead  their  simple  dances  ;  very  different  from 
the  steps  that  kept  time  to  a  wild,  weird  music, 
stirring  but  scarcely  bending  the  grass-blades. 
There  is  no  color  in  their  flaxen  locks,  and  little 
light  in  their  pale-blue  eyes ;  these  will  not  bear 
comparison  with  the  smooth  braided  tresses  that 
glistened  like  blue-black  serpents,  or  the  glances 
that  rained  down  liquid  fire  through  the  twilight 
of  the  forests  of  Elf-land.  Slowly  the  discon- 
tented dreamer  realizes  the  fact  that  the  spell  is 
still  upon  him  —  riveted  when  he  stole  that  first 
fatal  kiss  in  despite  of  his  mistress's  warning. 
Nothing  is  left  for  him  now  but  to  expiate  his  folly 
in  the  loneliness  of  the  gray  old  tower,  and  to  look 
forth,  hoping  to  see  the  grass-green  robe  gleam 
again  against  the  setting  sun,  and  to  hear  the  silver 
bells  chime  once  more  in  the  still  evening  air. 
Vain  —  worse  than  vain.  With  stiffened  limbs 
and  grizzled  hair,  we  are  not  worth  beguiling. 

This  is  essentially  a  masculine  illustration,  and 
only  applies  to  Cecil  Tresilyan  —  thus  far.  She 
was  sensible  of  the  influence  that  strengthened  its 
hold  upon  her  every  day,  and  did  not  now  wish  or 
try  to  resist  it,  but  she  grew  proportionately  doubt- 
ful and  uneasy  about  the  event.  A  feeling,  very 
strange  and  new  to  one   of  a  temperament  like 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  177 

hers,  began  to  creep  over  her  now  and  then.  At  such 
times  she  owned  that  her  eyes  were  the  more  ea- 
gerly and  steadfastly  fixed  on  the  Present,  because 
they  did  not  dare  to  look  into  the  Future.  Yet, 
as  far  as  she  knew,  there  was  no  ground  for  much 
apprehension. 

It  is  always  so.  Only  when  we  are  carrying- 
something  rare  and  precious  do  we  appreciate  the 
possible  perils  of  the  road.  How  much  steeper  the 
hills  are  now,  how  much  deeper  and  darker  the 
ravines,  how  much  more  frequent  the  crags  that 
might  so  easily  conceal  a  marauder,  than  when  we 
passed  them  some  months  ago,  chanting  the  reck- 
less roundelay  of  the  vacuus  viator. 

We  said,  you  remember,  before,  that  Miss  Tre- 
silyan  had  one  subject  of  self-reproach,  for  which 
she  had  never  gained  her  own  absolution.  The 
whispers  that  had  never  been  quite  silenced  began 
to  make  themselves  heard  unpleasantly  often  ;  and 
now  they  just  hinted  at  —  Retribution.  As  our 
poor  Cecil  must  come  to  confession  some  time 
or  another,  it  seems  to  me  this  is  a  convenient 
season. 

At  the  country-house  where  she  was  spending 
Christmas,  three  years  before  the  date  of  our  story, 
she  met  Mark  Waring.  She  knew  his  antece- 
dents :  how,  when  sudden  troubles  came  upon  his 
family,  he  gave  up  diplomacy,  which  he  had  en- 
tered upon,  and  took  up  the  law  —  hating  it  cor- 
dially —  simply  because  a  fair  opening  was  given 


178  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

him  there  of  securing  to  his  mother  and  sisters 
something  better  than  bread.  He  never  pretended 
to  feel  the  slightest  interest  in  his  profession,  but 
went  on  slaving  at  it  resolutely  and  successfully. 
He  made  no  merit  of  it,  either  ;  but  always  spoke, 
and  I  believe  thought  of  it,  as  the  merest  matter  of 
course  —  the  right  thing  to  do  under  the  circum- 
stances. There  was  a  hardihood  of  principle  about 
all  this  which  Cecil  rather  admired  ;  and  his  frank 
bold  bearing,  and  simple  straightforward  way  of 
IDutting  thoughts  that  were  worth  listening  to  into 
terse,  strong  language,  aided  the  first  favorable  im- 
pression. She  determined  to  make  Mark  like  her  ; 
and  when  she  had  a  fancy  of  this  kind  she  was  apt 
to  carry  it  out  without  much  consideration  for  the 
comfort  or  convenience  of  the  person  destined  to 
the  experiment.  She  had  no  deliberate  intention 
of  doing  anybody  any  harm  ;  but  those  innocent 
little  whims  and  projects  of  amusement  do  more 
mischief  sometimes  than  the  most  systematic  mach- 
inations of  Devil-craft.  Why,  when  you  begin 
even  to  ivrite  a  chapter,  it  is  very  difficult  to  say 
where  it  will  end  ;  when  you  begin  to  talk  it  or 
act  it,  it  is  harder  still  to  prophesy  aright.  A 
character  or  a  sentence,  or  an  idea,  which  looked 
quite  insignificant  at  first,  assumes  perfectly  por- 
tentous dimensions  and  importance  before  we  have 
done  with  it ;  so  that  the  alternate  effect  is  nearly 
as  startling  when  realized  as  that  produced  by 
Alice's  conjuration  — 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  179 

She  crossed  him  thi-ice,  that  lady  bold  ; 

Ho  rose  beneath  her  hand, 
The  fairest  knight  on  Scottish  mold, 

Her  brother,  Ethert  Brand. 

So  while  Cecil  was  drawing  on  Mark  Waring  to 
talk  about  his  daily  life, —  sympathizing  with  him 
about  his  hard,  distasteful  work,  and  pitying  his 
loneliness,  —  she  never  guessed  how  her  words 
were  being  branded,  one  by  one,  on  the  earnest, 
steadfast  heart,  that  her  own  lofty  nature  was  not 
worthy  to  understand.  In  a  week  after  their  first 
meeting  she  had  drawn  from  him  all  the  love  he 
had  to  give ;  and  men  of  Mark  Waring's  mould 
can  only  find  room  for  one  love  in  a  lifetime. 
Such  characters  are  exceptional,  fortunately :  for 
they  are  very  impracticable  and  difficult  to  get  on 
with ;  and  their  antiquated  notions  are  perpetually 
contrasting  and  conflicting  with  the  established 
prejudices  of  polite  and  Avell-organized  society,  — 
sometimes  even  checking  the  same,  for  an  instant, 
in  its  easy  conventional  flow.  They  vjoyi't  see  that, 
of  all  ways  of  spending  time  and  thought,  the  most 
absurdly  unprofitable  is  to  waste  them  on  a  Mem- 
ory. Yet  —  0  mine  excellent  friend  and  cynical 
preceptor  !  to  whom,  for  sage  instruction,  I  owe  a 
debt  of  gratitude  that  I  never  mean  to  repay  — 
I  beseech  you,  consort  not  too  much  with  these 
misguided  men.  They  are  not  likely  to  infect  you 
with  their  pestilent  doctrines  and  principles  ;  but 
they  may,  in  an  unguarded  moment,  make  you 
do  violence  to  your  favorite  maxim,  —  Nil  admi- 
rari. 


180  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

With  all  his  strong  common  sense,  Mark  was 
lamentably  deficient  in  worldly  wisdom.  He  never 
saw  the  obstacles  that  would  have  daunted  others. 
Could  anything  be  more  improbable  than  that 
the  most  triumphant  beauty  of  the  season  should 
seriously  incline  to  share  the  long  up-hill  struggle 
of  a  rising  barrister  ?  Those  dull  Temple-cham- 
bers are  lucky  enough  if  the  sun  condescends  to 
visit  them  at  rare  intervals  in  his  journey  west- 
ward. But  Waring' s  own  singleness  of  purpose 
beguiled  him  more  effectually  than  the  most  inor- 
dinate vanity  could  have  done.  Putting  character 
out  of  the  question,  he  thought  a  woman  could 
only  derogate  by  allying  herself  to  one  of  inferior 
birth ;  and  he  knew  his  own  blood  to  be  nearly 
equal  to  Miss  Tresilyan's.  He  was  right  so  far ; 
if  she  had  only  loved  him,  she  would  have  sub- 
scribed readily  to  every  article  of  his  simple, 
knightly  creed.  The  last  idea  that  entered  his 
mind  was,  that  she  could  have  stooped  so  low  as 
to  trifle  with  him.  It  was  the  old  mistake.  We 
measure  other  people's  feelings  by  the  intensity  of 
our  own,  and  think  it  hard  when  we  meet  with  dis- 
appointment. Yet  a  certain  misgiving,  that  he  did 
not  like  to  analyze,  kept  him  from  bringing  the 
question  to  an  issue  till  the  day  before  his  depart- 
ure. Then  he  told  her  frankly  what  his  prospects 
were,  and  asked  her  to  share  them. 

Now,  "  the  Refuser  "  was  so  used  to  seeing  men 
commit  themselves  in  this  way  on  the  very  shortest 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  181 

notice,  and  without  the  faintest  encouragement, 
that  the  situation  had  ceased  to  afford  her  much 
excitement :  a  proposal  no  more  made  her  ner- 
vous, than  the  file-firing  does  a  thoroughly  broken 
charger.  For  once,  however,  she  felt  uncomfort- 
able and  vexed  with  herself,  though  she  did  not 
guess  the  extent  of  the  harm  she  had  done.  Noth- 
ing could  be  kinder  or  gentler  than  her  answer, 
but  nothing  could  be  more  decisive.  On  the  cold, 
smooth  rock  there  was  not  a  cleft  or  a  trailing 
weed  for  despair  to  cling  to  in  its  drowning  agony. 
So  the  hope  of  Mark  Waring's  life  went  down  there 
without  a  cry  or  a  struggle  —  as  it  is  fitting  the 
hope  of  a  strong  heart  should  die  —  into  the  depths 
of  the  Great  Sea  that  never  will  give  up  its  dead.*- 
The  lover  of  the  present  day  is  rather  a  curious 
study  immediately  after  he  has  encountered  a  de- 
feat or  disappointment.  Sometimes  the  phase  is 
a  mild  melancholy.  I  remember  a  case  of  this  sort 
not  very  long  ago.  The  reflections  on  things  in 
general  that  flowed  constantly  from  that  man's  lips' 
for  the  space  of  about  a  fortnight,  were  incredible 
to  those  who  knew  him  well.  They  were  so  calmly 
philosophic — so  pleasantly  ironical,  without  a  tinge 
of  bitterness  — so  frequently  relieved  by  the  flashes 
of  keen  humor  —  that  to  listen  to  them  (the 
weather  being  intensely  hot)  was  soothing  and 
refreshing  in  the  extreme.  Everybody  was  sorry 
when  he  was  consoled ;  for,  since  that  time  ho  has 
never  made  an  observation  worth  recording.     She 

16 


182  SWORD     AND    GOWN. 

was  a  very  clever  woman  who  reduced  our  friend 
to  this  abnormal  state,  though  she  grossly  mal- 
treated him;  and  from  close  association,  some  of 
her  conversational  talent,  perhaps  insensibly,  had 
got  into  his  constitution  ;  but  it  could  not  thrive  in 
such  an  uncongenial  soil,  where  there  was  nothing 
to  nourish  it.  Some  men,  again,  take  the  reckless 
and  boisterous  line,  plunging  for  awhile  into  all 
sorts  of  demoralization,  with  an  evident  content- 
ment in  having  a  fair  excuse  for  the  same  in  their 
disappointment.  Certainly  it  is  rather  a  luxurious 
state  of  things  —  to  satisfy  one's  vengeance  wliilst 
gratifying  one's  appetites  —  and  to  know  that  peo- 
ple are  saying  all  the  time  —  "  Poor  Charlie  !  He  's 
very  much  to  be  pitied.  It 's  entirely  Fanny  Grey'e 
fault.  Ho  is  dreadfully  altered  since  she  behaved 
to  him  so  shamefully."  Others  —  probably  the 
majority  —  go  for  complete  indifference  ;  and  suc- 
ceed creditably,  on  the  whole.  A  few,  very  few, 
know  that  their  happiness  has  got  its  death-wound, 
and  are  able  to  take  it  bravely  and  silently.  It  is 
of  one  of  these  last  we  are  speaking. 

Mark  "Waring  was  too  honest  to  affect  insensi- 
bility ;  he  was  not  of  the  stuff  out  of  which  accom- 
plished actors  are  made.  He  walked  quickly  to 
the  window,  that  his  face  might  not  betray  him, 
and  did  not  turn  round  till  he  thought  he  had  dis- 
ciplined it  thoroughly.  It  was  but  a  half  victory 
after  all ;  for  when  Cecil  met  his  eyes,  her  cheek 
became  the  paler  of  the  two.      She  read   there 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  183 

enough  to  make  her  wish  that  she  coiihl  give  up 
all  her  former  triumphs^  and  undo  this  last  success. 
She  tried  to  tell  him  that  she  was  deeply  grieved 
and  repentant ;  but  the  words  would  not  come. 
Mark  forgot  his  own  sorrow  when  he  saw  large 
drops  hanging  ready  to  fall  on  the  dark,  long  eye- 
lashes. 

"  Pray  do  not  distress  yourself,"  he  said,  quite 
steadily;  ''such  presumption  as  mine  deserves 
harsher  treatment  than  it  has  met  with  from  you. 
You  are  not  answerable  for  my  extravagant  self- 
delusions.  I  would  ask  you  to  forgive  me  for 
having  been  so  precipitate  —  only  I  know,  now, 
that  if  I  had  waited  seven  years,  your  answer 
would  have  been  the  same.  Let  us  part  in  kind- 
ness ;  it  will  be  very  long  before  we  meet  again ; 
but  I  do  not  think  I  shall  forget  you ;  and  I  hope 
you  will  remember  me  if  you  ever  want  a  hand 
or  head  to  carry  out  any  one  of  your  wishes  or 
whims.  It  would  make  me  very  happy  if  I  could 
so  serve  you.  Now,  good  by.  It  is  only  going 
this  afternoon  instead  of  to-morrow.  I  must  try 
and  make  up  for  lost  time,  too,  by  working  a  little 
harder." 

The  smile  that  accompanied  those  last  words 
haunted  Cecil  for  many,  many  days.  She  knew 
already  enough  of  Waring  to  be  certain  that  he 
would  never  sink  into  maudlin  sentimentality ;  it 
saddened  her  inexpressibly  to  fancy  him  —  alone  in 
his  gloomy  chambers,  when  the  night  was  waning. 


184  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

chained  to  those  crabbed  law-papers  from  a  dreary 
sense  of  duty,  but  without  a  hope  or  an  interest  to 
cheer  him  on :  he  had  given  iip  ambition  long  ago. 
(There  are  many  clocks  that  keep  time  to  a  sec- 
ond, when  their  striking  part  is  ruined  utterly.) 
She  felt  angry,  then  and  afterwards,  that  she  could 
find  no  words  to  say  the  least  appropriate  or  ex- 
pressive :  she  held  out  her  hand  timidly,  pleading 
for  forgiveness  with  her  eyes.  He  just  touched  it 
with  his  lips  before  he  let  it  go.  That  kiss  of  peace 
was  a  more  precious  tribute  than  any  of  her  hun- 
dred vassals  had  offered  to  the  proud  Tresilyan. 
So  they  parted. 

Cecil's  conscience  was  disagreeably  uncompro- 
mising, and  for  a  long  time  declined  to  admit  any 
valid  excuse  for  the  mischief  she  had  done  ;  but 
time  and  change  are  efficient  anodynes ;  and  her 
penance  was  nearly  completed  when  she  came  to 
Dorade.  Of  late,  however,  the  reproachful  vision 
had  presented  itself  oftener  than  ever.  She  real- 
ized more  completely  the  pain  that  Mark  Waring 
must  have  endured,  as  she  guessed  what  would  be 
the  bitterness  of  her  own  feelings,  if  it  should  prove 
that  she  had  mistaken  Royston  Keene.  That  sor- 
rowful memory  seemed  to  rise  before  her  like  a 
warning  spectre,  waving  her  back  from  the  path 
she  had  begun  to  tread.  Truly,  Cecil  Tresilyan 
was  diiferent  from  the  generality  of  her  sex ;  or, 
when  her  own  heart  was  sorely  imperilled,  she 
would  never  have  found  time  to  think  so  often, 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  185 

and  so  regretfully,  of  one  that  she  had  broken. 
But,  when  a  woman  has  once  determined  to  set 
her  whole  fortunes  on  the  turn  of  a  die,  where  is 
the  monitor  that  will  teach  her  prudence  or  self- 
restraint  ?  She  will  hardly  be  persuaded  "  though 
one  rose  from  the  dead." 


16* 


CHAPTER    XY. 

ROYSTON  KEENE  had  indeed  good  reason  to 
augur  ill  of  the  ending  of  his  love-dream : 
but  it  was  in  his  nature  always  to  walk  straight  on 
to  the  accomplishment  of  his  purpose,  overlooking 
the  obstacles  that  lay  between  and  the  dangers  that 
lay  beyond.  This  partly  accounted  for  his  utter 
insensibility  to  ordinary  inconveniences  and  annoy- 
ances. His  own  words  to  Molyneux,  one  day,  when 
the  latter  remarked  on  this  peculiarity,  though 
somewhat  allegorical,  expressed  his  theory  and 
practice  fairly :  "  Hal,  when  we  are  travelling,  we 
always  remember  where  we  change  our  large  notes ; 
but  life  is  not  long  enough  to  recollect  how  the 
thalers  and  piastres  go."  His  companion  thought 
this  rather  a  brilliant  illustration,  especially  as  it 
squared  with  his  own  ideas  of  existence.  But  in 
reality,  between  the  two  men  there  was  a  marked 
distinction.  A  genial  kindliness  in  the  one,  and  a 
hard,  unscrupulous  determination  in  the  other, 
worked  out  nearly  the  same  results. 

Eoyston  liked  Cecil  Tresilyan  better  than  any 
woman  he  had  ever  seen,  and  he  made  up  his  mind 
to  win  her.     It  is  more  than  doubtful  if  he  took 


SWORD     AND     GOWN.  187 

the  probable  consequences  to  either  into  considera- 
tion at  all.  Foot  by  foot  he  was  gaining  ground 
till  he  felt  almost  sure  of  success ;  but  this  confi- 
dence never  made  him  for  an  instant  less  vigilant 
in  watching  the  chances,  less  careful  in  scoring 
every  point  of  the  game.  Ho  had  played  it  long 
enough  to  know  these  right  well. 

Yet  to  him,  too,  the  Past  brought  its  warning. 
He  was  rarely  troubled  or  favored  with  dreams  ; 
but  one  night  was  an  exception  to  the  rule.  To 
understand  it  you  must  look  back  once  more,  and 
bear  with  me  while  we  moralize  yet  again.  Ex- 
cuse z  du  peu. 

There  is  a  regret  that  has  power  to  move  and 
torment  the  coldest  Stoic  that  vegetates  on  earth : 
it  comes  when  our  own  hand  or  act  has  slain  the 
one  living  thing  that  loved  us  best  of  all.  We 
may  have  done  the  deed  unwittingly  or  unwilling- 
ly ;  we  may  have  been  unconscious  of  the  love  that 
was  borne  us  till  it  was  too  late  for  acknowledg- 
ment ;  we  may  never,  in  thought  or  word  or  act, 
have  injured  our  victim  before  that  last  wrong  of 
the  death-blow ;  —  well  for  those  who  can  plead  so 
fair  an  excuse  ;  yet  even  this,  with  all  the  rest,  the 
inexorable  Nemesis  laughs  to  scorn.  I  wonder  that 
poets  and  dramatists  have  not  oftener  selected  this 
saddest  theme.  It  may  be  true  that  the  last  mur- 
mur from  the  lips  of  the  Llewellyn,  when  his  life 
was  ebbing  away  in  the  Pass  of  the  Ambush,  syl- 
labled the  name,  not  of  wife  or  child  or  friend,  but 


188  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

of  a  stanch  wolf-hound;  and  perhaps  tears  less 
bitter  have  been  shed  over  the  graves  of  many  ex- 
emplary Christians  than  those  that  .sprinkled  the 
turf  under  the  birch-trees  where  Gelert  was  sleep- 
ing. It  could  not  free  the  Ancient  Mariner  from 
the  remorse  that  clung  to  him  like  a  poisoned  gar- 
ment till  it  made  him  a  "  world's  wonder,"  because, 
when  he  shot  the  albatross,  he  thought  he  was  ben- 
efiting his  fellows.  Not  less  accusingly  did  the 
voices  of  the  sea  wail  in  the  ears  of  the  desolate 
Yiking,  because,  when  the  bitter  arrow  went  aside, 
he  was  fighting  hard  to  save  Oriana.  Nothing 
could  be  more  correct  than  the  conduct  of  Virgin- 
ius,  or  more  creditable  to  a  Roman  father;  but 
when  he  harangued  in  the  Forum  in  after  days,  I 
doubt  if  the  commons  thronged  so  densely,  as  to 
shut  out  from  the  demagogue  a  vision  of  fair  hair 
dabbled  in  blood,  gleaming  awfully  in  the  sunlight, 
and  of  dark-blue  eyes  turned  upon  him  in  a  won- 
dering horror  till  that  look  froze  in  them  forever- 
more.  I  doubt  if  the  cheers  of  his  partisans  were 
so  noisy  as  to  drown  the  memory  of  a  certain 
choked,  shivering  moan :  in  the  long,  lonely  winter 
nights,  at  least,  be  sure  those  sights  and  sounds 
visited  the  Tribune's  hearth,  often  enough  to  sat- 
isfy the  savage  spirit  of  the  doomed  Decemvir. 

It  was  this  remorse  which  had  stricken  Royston 
Keene  sorely,  even  through  his  armor  of  proof,  as 
he  knelt,  not  very  long  ago,  by  the  side  of  a  death- 
bed.    A  woman  lay  there,  scarcely  past  girlhood, 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  189 

and  fair  enough  to  have  been  the  pride  of  any  Eng- 
lish household,  as  daughter  or  sister  or  wife.  You 
shall  not  read  unnecessarily  an  episode  of  sin  and 
bitter  sorrow,  and  of  shame  that  was  not  less  heavy 
to  bear  because  the  eyes  of  the  world  were  blinded 
and  saw  it  not.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  the  blood 
of  Emily  Carlyle  was  as  certainly  on  her  tempter's 
head  as  that  of  any  one  of  those  whom  he  had  slain 
in  open  fight  with  shot  or  steel.  This  is  what  she 
answered  when  he  asked  her  to  forgive  him  :  "  My 
own,  I  have  forgiven  you  long  ago  !  I  could  not 
help  it,  if  I  would.  I  cannot  reproach  you,  either  ; 
for,  though  I  have  tried  hard  to  repent,  I  fear,  if 
all  were  to  come  over  again,  I  should  not  act  more 
coldly  or  wisely.  But  listen !  I  know  you  will 
be  able,  if  you  choose  it,  to  make  others  love  you 
nearly  as  well  as  I  have  done  —  and  you  luill  choose 
it.  Darling,  promise  me  that,  for  my  sake,  you 
will  spare  one.  I  could  die  easier  if  I  thought  my 
intercession  had  saved  another's  soul,  though  I  was 
so  weak  in  guarding  my  own.  It  might  help  me 
too,  perhaps  —  if  anything  can  help  me  —  where 
I  am  going."  Even  Royston  Keene  shivered  at 
the  low  terror-stricken  whisper  in  which  these  last 
words  were  spoken.  He  gave  the  promise,  though, 
and  remembered  it  occasionally  till  —  the  time  for 
keeping  it  came. 

The  Major  had  been  spending  the  evening  with 
Cecil  Tresilyan,  making  arrangements  for  a  picnic 
tliat  was  to  take  place  two  days  later.     He  had 


190  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

had  a  passage-of-arms  or  two  with  Mrs.  Daiivers, 
wherein  that  strong-principled  but  weak-minded 
enthusiast  had  been  utterly  discomfited,  and  routed 
with  great  slaughter.  Altogether  it  was  a  very- 
pleasant  entertainment ;  and  he  went  to  his  rest 
in  a  state  of  great  contentment  and  satisfaction. 
He  woke  (or  seemed  to  wake)  with  a  sudden  start 
and  shudder ;  for  he  was  aware  of  the  presence  of 
Something  in  the  room,  that  was  not  there  when 
he  laid  down. 

Out  of  the  black  darkness  a  face  slowly  defined 
itself,  bending  over  the  pillow,  and  creeping  close 
to  his  own,  —  only  a  face,  —  he  could  not  distin- 
guish even  the  outline  of  a  figure.  He  knew  it 
very  well ;  and  the  eyes,  too  —  but  there  was  an 
upbraiding  there  that,  while  she  lived,  he  had 
never  seen  in  those  of  gentle  Emily  Carlyle ;  and 
a  reproach  came  from  the  white  lips,  though  they 
did  not  move  to  give  it  passage.  "  All  forgotten  ! 
I  —  the  promise,  too.  And  yet  —  I  suffer  —  I 
sufier  always."  The  sad  pleading  expression  of 
the  face  and  eyes  vanished  then  ;  and  a  strange, 
pale  glare,  not  like  the  moonlight,  that  seemed  to 
come  from  within,  lighted  them  up, — fixed  and 
rigid,  yet  eloquent  of  unutterable  agony:  there 
was  written  plainly  the  self-abhorrence  of  a  heart 
conscious  of  the  coils  of  the  undymg  worm,  —  the 
despair  of  a  soul  looking  far  into  Futurity,  yet 
seeing  no  end  to  the  wrath  to  come.  Then  the 
darkness   swallowed  up  all ;   and,   before   Keene 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  191 

tlioroughly  roused  himself  —  with  a  smothered 
cry  —  he  knew  that  he  was  alone  agahi. 

A  cold  dew  lingered  on  the  dreamer's  forehead, 
as  if  a  breath  from  beyond  the  grave  had  lately 
passed  over  it ;  but  terror  was  not  the  predominat- 
ing feeling.  He  had  ruled  that  timid,  trusting 
girl  too  long  and  too  imperiously,  to  quail  before 
her  disembodied  spirit.  But  a  strange  sadness 
overcame  him  as  he  pondered  upon  all  that  she  had 
endured  —  and  might  still  be  enduring  —  for  his 
sake  :  a  glimmer  of  something  like  generosity  and 
compassion  flickered  for  a  brief  space  over  the  sur- 
face of  the  cast-steel  heart.  He  rose,  and  leant  out 
into  the  steady,  outer  moonlight,  musing  for  sev- 
eral minutes,  and  then  began  muttering  aloud. 
"  It  would  be  as  well  to  clear  off  one  debt,  at  least. 
I  did  pass  my  word.  She  deserves  this  sacrifice,  if 
it  were  only  for  never  complaining :  let  her  have 
her  way.  By  G — d,  I  '11  go  off  to-morrow  evening ; 
and  I  '11  tell  Cecil  so,  as  soon  as  I  can  see  her. 
Bah !  what  is  a  man  worth  if  he  cannot  forget  ? 
Besides,  I  don't  know  —  "  The  rest  of  his  doubts 
and  scruples  he  confessed  —  not  even  to  the  stars. 

Climate  has  a  great  deal  to  answer  for.  A  sud- 
den tempest,  or  an  opportune  mist,  has  turned  the 
scale  of  more  battles  than  some  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful generals  would  have  liked  to  own.  If  the 
next  morning  had  broken  sullenly,  things  might 
have  gone  far  otherwise.  But  it  was  one  of  those 
brilliant  days  that  make  even  the  invalids  not  re- 


192  SWORD    AND    COWN. 

gret,  for  the  moment,  that  they  have  given  up  all 
English  comforts  and  home-pleasures  for  the  off- 
chance  of  wringing  another  month  or  two  of  life 
out  of  the  wreck  of  their  constitution.  Every- 
thing looked  bright  and  in  holiday-guise,  from  the 
wreaths  of  ivy  glistening  on  the  brows  of  the  shat- 
tered old  castle,  down  to  the  dvrjplOfiov  yeXaa-fMa 
of  the  turquoise-sea.  Under  the  circumstances,  it 
was  very  unlikely  that  Royston  would  keep  to  his 
virtuous  resolutions.  The  first  half  of  them  he 
carried  out  perfectly  :  he  did  go  straight  to  Cecil 
Tresilyan,  and  tell  her  of  his  intentions  to  depart. 
She  did  not  betray  much  of  her  disappointment  or 
surprise  ;  but  she  argued  with  so  fascinating  a 
casuistry  against  the  necessity  of  such  a  sudden 
step,  that  it  was  no  wonder  if  she  soon  convinced 
her  hearer  of  the  propriety  of,  at  least,  delaying  it. 
In  a  case  like  this,  an  excuse  of  "  urgent  private 
affairs,"  that  would  suffice  for  the  most  rigid  mar- 
tinet that  ever  tyrannized  over  a  district  or  a 
division,  sounds  absurdly  trivial  and  insincere. 
"When  a  proud  beauty  does  condescend  to  plead,  a 
man  who  really  cares  for  her  must  be  very  pecu- 
liarly constituted,  if  he  remains  constant  in  denial. 
The  vision  of  the  night  had  faded  away  already. 
Those  poor  ghosts  !  They  have  no  chance  —  the 
mystics  say  —  against  embodied  spirits,  if  the  latter 
only  keep  up  their  courage,  and  choose  to  assert 
their  supremacy.  Besides,  they  must,  perforce,  fly 
before  the  dawn.     And  what  dawu  was  ever  so 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  193 

bright  as  The  Tresilyan's  smile,  when  she  guessed 
from  Royston's  face,  without  his  speaking,  that  she 
had  won  the  day  ? 

So  the  picnic  came  off  according  to  the  arrange- 
ment. The  weather  and  everything  else  looked  so 
promising,  that  even  the  vinegar  in  Bessie  Dan- 
vers's  composition  was  acidulated ;  and,  when 
Keene  greeted  her  at  the  place  of  rendezvous^  she 
favored  him  with  just  such  a  smile  as  one  of  the 
grim  Puritan  dames,  in  a  rare  interval  of  courtesy, 
may  have  granted  to  Claverhouse  or  Montrose  — 
the  right  of  reprobation  being  reserved.  It  is 
greatly  to  be  feared  that  the  Malignant  did  not 
appreciate  the  condescension :  his  attention  was  so 
entirely  taken  up  in  another  quarter. 

Cecil  Tresilyan  was  perfectly  dazzling  in  the 
splendor  and  insolence  of  her  beauty  :  the  calm  self- 
possession  that  usually  distinguished  her  seemed 
changed  into  almost  reckless  high  spirits  :  even  her 
dress  betrayed  a  certain  intention  of  coquetry  ;  and 
her  splendid  violet  eyes  flashed,  ever  and  anon, 
with  a  mischievously  mutinous  expression,  that 
made  their  glance  a  challenge.  Such  a  frame  of 
mind  the  Scotch  describe,  when  they  speak  of  a 
person  being  "  fey,"  holding  it  to  be  a  sure  presage 
of  impending  disaster. 

0  guileless  maidens !  be  warned,  and  trust  not 
to  attractive  appearances.  Lo  !  there  is  not  a 
cloud  in  the  sky  that  smiles  over  the  Xysian  vale  ; 
all  round  the  roses  and  lilies  are  blooming,  till  the 


194  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

air  is  faint  with  their  perfume  ;  merry  and  musical 
rings  the  laugh  of  Persephone,  as  she  goes  forth 
with  her  comrades  a-Maying :  but  worse  things 
than  serpents  lurk  beneath  the  waving  grass.  We, 
who  have  read  the  ancient  legend,  listen  already 
for  the  roll  of  the  nether  thunder :  we  know  that, 
in  another  minute,  the  earth  will  disgorge  A'ido- 
neus,  the  smart  ravisher,  with  his  iron  chariot : 
then  will  come  a  struggle  of  the  dove  in  the  clutch 
of  the  falcon,  —  a  cry  for  help  drowned  in  a  hoarse 
growl  of  triumph,  —  shrieks  and  wild  disorder 
amongst  the  flying  nymphs  :  but  the  loveliest  of 
the  land  will  rejoin  them  never  any  more.  De- 
meter,  (like  other  careful  chaperones,)  when  she 
is  most  wanted  is  far  away,  tending  her  corn-lands 
or  revelling  in  the  odors  of  sacrifice.  Finding  her 
after  long-baffled  search,  she  will  hardly  recognize 
her  innocent  child  in  the  pale  Queen  of  Shades, 
that  seems  worthy  of  her  awful  throne  far-gleam- 
ing through  the  leaden  twilight:  the  little  hand 
that  used  to  weave  garlands  so  deftly  sways  the 
golden  sceptre  right  royally ;  but  the  deep,  solemn 
eyes  have  forgotten  how  to  smile.  Slie  who  once 
wept  bitterly  over  her  pet-bird  when  it  died,  lis- 
tens, unmoved,  to  the  clank  of  Megoera's  scourge, 
and  to  the  wail  of  a  million  spirits  in  torment. 
Her  beauty  is  more  magnificent  than  ever ;  but  it 
is  tinged  with  the  austere  and  dreary  majesty  that 
befits  the  consort  of  the  King  of  Hell.  Ah,  woful 
mother  !  desist  from  intercession,  and  dry  those 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  195 

unavailing  tears  :  it  is  too  late  now  to  tempt  her 
to  follow  you,  even  if  Hades  will  let  its  empress 
depart  for  a  season :  the  pure,  natural  fruits  of 
your  upper  earth  have  lost  all  savor  for  the  lips 
that  once  have  tasted  the  fatal  pomegranate. 

Mr.  FuUarton  and  his  family  completed  the 
party,  which  was  confined  to  the  Molyneuxs'  set. 
The  Chaplain  was  strangely  nervous,  fussy,  and 
important :  it  seemed  as  if  the  possession  of  some 
weighty  secret  that  he  was  eager,  yet  afraid,  to 
divulge,  had  disturbed  his  23hlegmatic  complacency. 
He  took  the  first  opportunity  of  beseeching  Miss 
Tresilyan  to  be  allowed  to  act  as  her  escort :  it  was 
customary  on  all  these  expeditions  that  each  dame 
and  demoiselle,  besides  the  professional  muleteer, 
should  be  attended  by  at  least  one  "  dismounted 
skirmisher."  Cecil  was  rather  puzzled  by  the  pe- 
tition, and  by  the  earnest  way  in  which  it  was  pre- 
ferred; but  she  was  too  happy  to  deny  anybody 
anything  just  then ;  besides  which,  she  felt  con- 
scious of  having  visited  her  pastor  of  late  with  a 
certain  amount  of  neglect,  not  to  say  contumely. 
So  she  consented,  graciously ;  but  the  sidelong 
glance  at  Keene,  asking  for  his  sympathy,  did  not 
escape  her  reverend  cavalier. 

It  was  evident  that  Mr.  Fullarton  had  something 
on  his  mind  that  he  intended  to  impart  to  his  com- 
panion ;  but  it  was  equally  clear  that  he  did  not 
see  his  way  to  the  confidence.  The  path  turned 
abruptly  across  the  line  of  hills ;  and  while  he  was 


196  BWOKD     ANU    GOWN. 

hesitating  and  looking  about  for  a  fair  opening,  it 
got  so  steep  and  rugged  tliat  it  soon  left  liim  no 
breath  for  the  disclosure.  Before  they  had  gone 
half  a  league  the  divine  was  decidedly  in  difficul- 
ties ;  he  rolled  hither  and  thither,  panting  pain- 
fully, like  one  who  has  already  endured  all  the 
burden  and  heat  of  the  day.  Still  he  clung  obsti- 
nately to  Cecil's  bridle-rein,  rather  assisted  than 
assisting,  till  they  reached  a  point  where  the  road 
resembled  greatly  a  flight  of  garret  stairs,  without 
any  regularity  in  the  steps  thereof.  The  mule  and 
its  leader  stumbled  together  ;  the  former  recovered 
itself  cleverly  after  the  fashion  of  its  kind ;  but 
such  a  tour  de  force  far  exceeded  the  exhausted 
energies  of  the  pursy  pastor.  He  was  fairly  "  down 
upon  his  head." 

Since  the  cavalcade  started.  Major  Keene  had 
not  attempted  to  disturb  the  order  of  march.  At 
first  he  walked  by  the  side  of  Fanny  Molyneux, 
and  did  his  best  to  amuse  her  ;  when  the  path  be- 
came too  narrow  for  three  abreast,  he  resigned  the 
charge  to  Harry,  (who  never,  willingly,  when  en 
voyage  J  abdicated  the  charge  of  his  mignonne,') 
and  went  on  by  himself,  just  in  th^  rear  of  Miss 
Tresilyan  and  her  clerical  escort.  He  presented, 
in  truth,  a  striking  contrast  to  that  over-tasked 
pedestrian, —  going,  easily,  within  himself,  without 
a  quickened  breath,  or  a  bead  of  moisture  on  his 
forehead.  Shikari  of  the  upper  Himalayas,  gillies 
of  Perthshire  and  the  Western  Highlands,  cha- 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  197 

mois-himters  of  the  Tyrol,  and  guides  of  Cha- 
mounix  or  Courmajeiir,  could  all  have  told  tales 
of  that  long,  slashing  stride,  to  which  hill  or  dale, 
rough  or  smooth,  never  came  amiss ;  before  which 
even  the  weary  German  miles  were  swallowed  up 
like  furlongs.  He  sprang  quickly  forward  when 
he  saw  the  mishap  of  his  front  rank  ;  Miss  Tresil- 
yan  was  quite  safe,  so  he  only  gave  her  a  smile 
in  passing,  and  then  raised  the  fallen  ecclesiastic, 
with  a  studied  and  ostentatious  tenderness  that 
would  have  aggravated  a  saint. 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  severely  hurt,  Mr.  Fullar- 
ton  ?  You  really  should  be  less  rash  in  over- 
exciting  yourself.  The  spirit  is  willing,  but  the 
flesh  is  —  somewhat  '  short  of  work.'  May  I 
relieve  you  of  your  responsibility  till  you  have 
recovered  your  wind  ?  " 

In  spite  of  his  own  sacred  character,  and  the 
proprieties  of  time  and  place,  had  Keene  been 
weak  and  of  small  stature,  it  is  within  the  bounds 
of  possibility  that  the  Pastor  might  have  assaulted 
him,  there  and  then. 

If  it  had  not  been  for  that  unfortunate  sense 
of  the  ridiculous  which  was  perpetually  offering 
temptations  to  Miss  Tresilyan,  she  would  have 
undoubtedly  on  this  occasion  espoused  the  losing 
side  ;  but  she  exhausted  all  her  powers  of  self- 
control  in  expressing  (with  decent  gravity)  her 
sorrow  that  her  guide  should  have  come  to  grief 
in  her  service.     She  had  none  left  wherewith  to 

17# 


198  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

concoct  a  rebuke  for  the  Cool  Captain.  Consider- 
ing the  circumstances,  Mr.  FuUarton's  laugh,  and 
attempt  at  a  jest  on  his  own  discomfiture,  did  him 
infinite  credit.  With  the  smothered  expression 
that  half  escaped  his  lips  as  he  fell  to  the  rear, 
the  chronicler  has  no  earthly  concern. 

As  the  other  two  moved  onwards,  Royston  spoke, 
his  dark  eyes  glittering  scornfully, — 

"  I  wonder  if  women  will  ever  get  tired  of  de- 
riding us,  or  we  of  ministering  to  their  amuse- 
ment ?  It  must  have  been  a  great  satisfaction  to 
Anne  of  Austria  to  see  Richelieu  dance  that  sara- 
band. (But  Mazarin  paid  her  off  for  it.  I  am 
very  glad  that  the  Cardinal  was  avenged  by  the 
charlatan.^  Now,  how  could  you  allow  the  Shep- 
herd to  be  so  rash  ?  Consider  that  he  has  a  large 
and  increasing  family  totally  dependent  on  him 
for  support.  If  I  were  Mrs.  Fullarton,  I  would 
bring  an  action  against  you.  It  is  a  necessity  that 
his  successor  should  quote  soynething ;  and  he 
really  did  bring  to  my  mind  the  description  of 
the  White  Bull  of  Duncraggan,  who  started  up- 
hill so  vigorously,  — 

But  steep  and  flinty  was  the  road, 
And  sharp  the  hurrj'ing  pikemen's  goad, 
And  -when  we  came  to  Dennan's  Row, 
A  child  might  scatheless  stroke  his  brow. 

I  shouldn't  like  to  be  the  child,  though,"  he 
added,  meditatively,  with  a  backward  glance  at 
the  object  of  his  remarks,  who  indeed  did  present 
a  verv  "  dissolving 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  199 

The  tone  and  manner  of  his  speaking  showed 
how  much,  within  the  last  few  weeks,  the  relations 
of  the  two  had  altered  :  the  scale  was  already 
wavering,  and  erelong  might  be  foretold  a  change 
in  the  balance  of  power. 

His  beautiful  companion  shook  her  head  till  the 
soft  curling  plumes  that  nestled  round  her  hat 
danced  again ;  but  the  effect  of  the  reproving  ges- 
ture was  quite  spoilt  by  the  laugh  that  followed  it, 
suppressed  though  clear  as  a  silver  bell. 

"I  will  not  be  made  an  accomplice  in  your 
irreverent  comparisons;  I  don't  admit  the  resem- 
blance ;  if  there  were  one,  it  was  too  bad  of  '  the 
pikemen  '  not  to  be  more  considerate.  You 
always  try  to  impute  malicious  motives  to  the 
most  innocent.  How  could  I  guess  that  Mr. 
FuUarton  would  suffer  so  for  his  devotion  to  my 
interests  ?  I  will  give  you  back  your  quotation 
in  kind.  See !  if  I  were  as  mischievous  as  you 
insinuate,  — 

My  loss  may  pay  my  folly's  tax ; 
I  've  broke  my  trusty  battle-axe." 

The  ivory  handle  of  her  parasol  (the  same  that 
had  been  rescued  from  Duchesne)  chanced  to  be 
entangled  in  the  bridle  when  the  mule  stumbled, 
and  the  jerk  snapped  the  frail  shaft  in  two.  Keene 
took  the  fragment  from  her,  and  looked  at  it  for  an 
instant. 

"  Poor  thing ! "  he  said,  compassionately  ;  "  so  it 
was  fated  to  Ijc  short-lived  ?     It  was  hardly  worth 


200  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

while  saving  it  from  the  wrath  of  the  sinner,  if  it 
was  to  be  sacrificed  so  soon  to  the  awkwardness  of 
the  saint." 

"  Not  at  all,"  Cecil  replied.  "  It  was  my  fault, 
for  being  so  heedless.  But  I  cannot  afford  another 
misadventure  to-day.  Will  you  take  great  care  of 
me?" 

Her  soft,  caressing  tones  thrilled  through  Roy- 
ston's  veins  till  the  blood  mounted  to  his  forehead  ; 
but  he  made  no  answer  in  words,  only  looking  up 
earnestly  into  her  face  with  his  rare  smile. 

I  have  tried  throughout  to  avoid  inflicting  on 
you  a  dialogue  that  does  not  bear  in  some  way  on 
the  incidents  of  our  tale  ;  on  this  principle  we  will 
not  record  the  conversation  that  occupied  those 
two  till  they  reached  the  crown  of  the  pass.  It 
was  probably  interesting  to  them^  for  it  was  long 
before  either  forgot  a  word  that  was  spoken.  But 
the  imagination  or  the  memory  of  the  reader  will 
doubtless  fill  up  a  better  fancy-sketch  than  the  one 
omitted  here. 

There  was  a  general  halt  on  the  brow  of  the  hill. 
Indeed,  the  view  was  worth  a  pause.  From  below 
their  feet  the  tract  of  low  woodland  rolled  right 
down  to  the  edge  of  the  sea,  like  a  broad,  tossing 
river,  swelling  into  great  billows  of  gray,  or  dark 
green,  where  the  taller  olives  or  fir-trees  grew,  and 
broken  here  and  there  with  islets  of  many-colored 
stone.  With  the  rest,  came  up  the  Chaplain,  who 
had  recovered  by  this  time  his  breath,  and,  to  a 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  201 

certain  extent,  liis  equanimity.  While  the  others 
stood  silent,  he  saw  one  of  those  openings  for  im- 
proving the  occasion  professionally  of  which  he  was 
ever  so  ready  to  avail  himself.  So,  casting  his 
hand  abroad  theatrically,  he  declaimed, — 

How  glorious  are  thy  works,  Parent  of  Good ! 

The  words  came  oozing  out  in  the  oiliest  of  his 
unctuous  tones  ;  and  the  elocutionist's  expansive 
glance  fell  first  on  the  landscape  patronizingly, 
then  on  the  bystanders  encouragingly.  It  was  as 
though  he  said,  "  You  may  fall  to,  and  admire 
now.  I  have  asked  a  blessing."  Nothing  more 
occurred  worthy  of  note  till  they  reached  their 
destination  in  safety. 

Of  course,  "  there  never  was  such  a  place  for  a 
picnic ;  "  but,  as  that  has  been  said  of  about  three 
hundred  different  spots  in  every  civilized  country 
of  Europe,  it  is  certainly  not  worth  while  describ- 
ing this  particular  one.  The  luncheon  went  on 
very  much  as  such  things  always  do  when  the 
arrangements  are  perfect,  the  commissariat  unex- 
ceptionable, and  the  guests  hungry  and  happy. 

Mr.  FuUarton,  however,  applied  himself  so  assid- 
uously to  the  champagne-cup  that  his  sober-minded 
helpmate  (the  only  person  who  took  much  notice 
of  his  proceedings)  was  filled  with  an  uncomfort- 
able wonder.  At  last,  during  a  pause  in  the  gen- 
eral conversation,  he  addressed  Royston  abruptly, 
—  there  was  a  strange  huskiness  in  his  voice,  and 
his  lower  lip  kept  trembling,  — 


202  '  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

"  I  heard  from  Naples  this  morning.  My  friend 
mentions  having  met  Mrs.  Keene  there." 

The  Major  looked  up  at  the  speaker  with  the 
cool,  indifferent  glance  that  had  often  irritated 
him.  "  Indeed  !  I  was  not  aware  that  my  mother 
had  got  so  far  south  yet.  She  wrote  last  from 
Rome."  The  other  tossed  off  his  glass  with  an 
unsteady  hand,  and  set  it  down  sharply.  "I 
never  heard  of  your  mother,  sir,"  he  said;  "I 
was  speaking  of — your  wifeP 


CHAPTER    XYI. 

TO  quarrel  with  a  man  over  his  cups,  or  in  any- 
wise to  molest  him  in  his  drink,  is  an  offence 
against  the  proprieties  that  even  the  good-natured 
Epicurean  cannot  find  it  in  his  easy  heart  to  pal- 
liate or  pardon.  On  this  point  he  speaks  mildly, 
but  very  firmly  :  — 

Natis  in  usum  lietitiae  scyphis 
Pugnare,  Thracum  est.     ToUite  barbarum 
Morem :  verecundumque  Bacchum 
Sanguineis  prohibete  rixis. 

The  ghost  of  Banquo  was  an  uncivilized  spectre, 
or  —  strong  as  was  the  provocation  —  it  would 
have  confronted  Macbeth  in  any  other  place  sooner 
than  the  banqueting-hall.  The  worst  deed  in  the 
life  of  a  cruel,  false  king  was  the  setting  on  of  the 
black  bull's  head  before  the  doomed  Douglases ; 
and  perhaps  Pope  Alexander,  though  singularly 
exempt  from  all  vulgar  prejudice,  found  it  hard 
to  obtain  his  own  Pontifical  absolution  for  the 
poisoned  wine  in  which  he  pledged  the  Orsini  and 
Colonna.  In  these,  and  a  hundred  like  instances, 
there  was  certainly  the  shadowy  excuse  of  political 
expediency  or  necessity ;  but  what  shall  we  say  of 


204  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

that  individual  who  interrupts  the  harmony  of  a 
meeting  solely  to  gratify  his  own  private  pique  or 
pleasure  ?  Truly,  with  such  enormities  Heaven 
"  heads  the  count  of  crimes."  I  consider  the  most 
abominable  act  of  which  Eris  was  ever  guilty  was 
the  selection  of  that  particular  moment  for  the  pro- 
duction of  the  golden  apple.  If  she  was  bound  to 
make  herself  obnoxious,  she  might  have  waited  till 
the  Olympians  were  sitting  in  conclave,  or  at  least 
at  home  again  ;  it  was  infamous  to  disturb  them 
while  doing  justice  to  the  talents  of  Peleus's  cor- 
don-bleu.  I  wish  very  much  that  injured  and 
querulous  (Enone  had  met  her  somewhere  on  the 
slopes  of  Ida,  and  "  given  her  a  piece  of  her  mind." 
On  these  grounds,  I  venture  to  hope  that  all 
well-regulated  readers  will  concur  with  me  in  pro- 
nouncing Mr.  FuUarton's  conduct  totally  indefen- 
sible. It  would  have  been  so  easy  to  have  com- 
municated his  intelligence  to  any  that  it  might 
concern,  discreetly,  at  a  fitting  place  and  time, 
instead  of  casting  it  into  the  midst  of  a  convivial 
assembly  like  a  fulminating  ball.  Under  other 
circumstances  he  would  probably  have  taken  the 
quieter  course ;  but  he  had  been  smarting  for 
some  time  under  a  succession  of  provocations,  real 
and  fancied,  from  Royston  Keene,  and  his  own 
misadventure  that  morning  had  filled  the  cup  of 
irritation  brimful.  It  was  the  old  exasperating 
feeling,  — 

Earl  Percy  sees  my  fall. 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  205 

Whatever  might  be  the  cost,  he  could  not  make 
up  his  mind  to  let  slip  so  fair  a  chance  of  embar- 
rassing his  imperturbable  enemy ;  there  is  no  say- 
ing what  he  would  have  given  to  see  that  marvel- 
lous self-command  for  once  thoroughly  break  down. 
It  is  unfortunate  that  the  best-laid  plans  cannot 
always  insure  a  triumph.  The  Chaplain  certainly 
did  succeed  in  producing  a  "  situation,"  and  in 
reducing  most  of  the  party  to  that  uncomfortable 
frame  of  mind  which  is  popularly  described  as 
"wishing  one's  self  anywhere;"  but  the  person 
who  seemed  most  completely  unconcerned  was  the 
man  at  whom  the  blow  was  levelled. 

The  Major  shook  his  head  with  a  quick  gesture 
of  impatience,  just  as  if  some  insect  had  lighted 
on  his  forehead ;  beyond  this,  for  any  evidence  of 
his  being  annoyed  by  it,  Mr.  Fullarton's  last  re- 
mark might  have  related  to  missionary  prospects 
or  Chinese  politics.  The  steady  color  on  his 
swarthy  face  neither  lost  nor  gained  a  shade  ;  there 
was  not  a  sign  of  anger,  or  shame,  or  confusion  in 
his  clear,  bold  eyes ;  and  when  he  answered,  there 
was  not  one  fresh  furrow  on  the  brow  that,  at 
lighter  provocation,  was  so  apt  to  frown. 

"  I  give  you  credit  for  being  utterly  ignorant  of 
what  you  arc  talking  about,  Mr.  Fullarton.  You 
could  not  possibly  guess  how  disagreeable  the  sub- 
ject would  be  to  me.  As  it  can't  be  in  the  least 
interesting  to  any  one  else,  suppose  wo  change 
it?" 

18 


206  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

Just  the  same  cold,  measured  voice  as  ever,  with 
only  a  slight  sarcastic  inflexion  to  vary  the  deep, 
grave  tones  ;  but  a  very  close  observer  might  have 
seen  his  fingers  clench  the  handle  of  a  knife  while 
he  was  speaking,  as  if  their  gripe  would  have  dinted 
the  ivory. 

It  was  hardly  to  be  expected  that  the  rest  of  the 
party  would  emulate  the  sang-froid  of  the  Cool 
Captain.  Sailing  under  false  colors  is  a  convenient 
practice  enough,  and  productive  sometimes  of  many 
prizes  ;  but  divers  penalties  attach  to  its  detection 
on  land  as  well  as  on  sea.  Indeed,  it  involves  the 
necessity  of  somebody's  appearing  as  a  convicted 
impostor.  On  the  present  occasion  —  as  the  actor 
for  whom  the  character  was  cast  utterly  declined 
to  play  it  —  the  part  fell  to  poor  Harry  Molyneux, 
who  certainly  looked  it  to  perfection.  In  all  his 
little  difficulties  and  troubles,  when  hard  pressed, 
he  was  wont  to  fall  back  upon  the  reserve  of  la 
mignonne^  sure  of  meeting  there  with  sympathy,  if 
not  with  succor.  He  dared  not  do  so  now.  He 
dared  not  encounter  the  reproach  of  the  beautiful, 
gentle  eyes  that  had  never  looked  into  his  own 
otherwise  than  trustfully,  since  they  first  told  the 
secret  that  she  loved  him  dearly.  The  half-smoth- 
ered cry  that  broke  from  Fanny's  lips  when  the 
Chaplain  made  his  disclosure  went  straight  to  the 
heart  of  her  treacherous  husband  :  he  felt  as  if  he 
deserved  that  those  pretty  lips  should  never  smile 
upon  him  again. 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  207 

0,  all  my  readers  !  —  masculine,  especially  — 
whose  patience  has  carried  you  thus  far,  remark,  I 
beseech  you,  the  dangers  that  attend  any  dereliction 
from  the  duty  of  matrimonial  confidence.  What 
right  have  we  to  lock  up  the  secrets  of  our  most  in- 
timate friends,  far  less  our  own,  instead  of  pouring 
them  into  the  bosom  of  the  paOvKoXiro^  aKocTi,<;, 
which  is  capacious  enough  to  hold  them  all,  were 
they  tenfold  more  numerous  and  weighty  ?  Such 
reticence  is  rife  with  awful  peril.  In  our  folly  and 
blindness  we  fancy  ourselves  secure,  while  the 
ground  is  mined  under  our  guilty  feet,  and  the 
explosion  is  even  now  preparing,  from  which  only 
our  disjecta  membj'a  will  emerge.  Of  course  some 
cold-hearted  caviller  will  begin  to  quote  instances 
of  carefully  planned  and  promising  conspiracies, 
which  miscarried  solely  because  the  details  reached 
a  feminine  ear.  It  may  have  been  so  ;  but  I  don't 
see  what  business  conspiracies  have  to  succeed  at 
all.  Long  live  the  Constitution  !  Truly,  such  de- 
lightful confidences  must  be  something  one-sided  ; 
for  the  mildest  Griselda  of  them  all  would  be  led 
as  a  "  Martha  to  the  Stakes,"  sooner  than  concede 
to  her  husband  the  unrestricted  supervision  of  her 
correspondence.  I  have  indeed  a  dim  recollection 
of  having  heard  of  one  bride  of  seventeen,  who, 
during  the  honeymoon,  was  weak  and  (^selon  les 
dames')  wicked  enough,  to  submit  to  profane  male 
eyes  epistles  received  from  the  friends  of  her  youth, 
in  their  simple  entirety,  instead  of  reading  out  an 


208  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

expurgated  edition  of  the  same.  She  had  been 
brought  up  in  a  very  dungeon  of  decorum  by  a 
terrible  grandmother,  a  rigid  moraHst  whom  no 
man  ever  yet  beheld  without  a  shiver  ;  and  during 
those  first  few  weeks  after  her  escape  she  was  prob- 
ably intoxicated  by  the  novel  sense  of  freedom  ; 
besides  which,  she  was  perfectly  infatuated  about 
"  Reginald ;  "  but  all  this  could  not  exculpate  her 
when  arraigned  before  her  peers.  She  lived  long 
enough  to  repent  and  to  reassert,  to  some  extent, 
her  lost  matronly  dignity  ;  but  she  died  very  young 
—  let  lis  hope  in  fair  course  of  nature.  She  had 
violated  the  first  law  of  a  guild  more  numerous 
and  influential  than  that  of  the  Freemasons  :  ex- 
amples, are  necessary  from  time  to  time  ;  and 
though  the  Vehme-gericht  may  pity  the  offender, 
it  may  not  therefore  linger  in  its  vengeance.  Nev- 
ertheless, my  brethren,  our  course  is  clear.  Let 
us  resign  to  the  chatelaine  the  key  of  the  letter- 
bag  and  the  censorship  thereof.  If,  after  due 
warning,  our  light-minded  friends  ivill  write  to  us 
in  terms  that  mislike  that  excellent  and  punctilious 
inspectress,  they  must  abye  it  in  the  cold  looks  and 
bitter  innuendoes  which  will  be  their  portion  when 
they  come  to  us  in  the  next  hunting  season.  Our 
conscience,  at  least,  will  be  pure  and  undefiled, 
and  we  shall  pass  to  the  end  of  our  pilgrimage  sans 
peur^  though,  perchance,  even  then  not  sans  re- 
proche.  "  Servitudes,"  as  Miggs,  the  veteran  ves- 
tal, remarked,  "  is  no  inheritance  ; "  but  there  are 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  209 

natures  who  thrive  rarely  in  this  tranquil  and 
inglorious  condition.  Such  men  live,  as  a  rule, 
pretty  contentedly,  to  a  great  old  age,  and  die  in 
the  odor  of  intense  respectability.  Salubrious,  it 
seems,  as  well  as  creditable  to  the  patient,  is  a 
regime  of  moderate  hen-pecking  ;  only  it  is  neces- 
sary that  he  should  be  of  the  intermediate  species 
between  Socrates  and  Georges  Dandin. 

Mrs.  Danvers  would  certainly  have  indulged 
openly  in  that  immoderate  exultation  to  which 
all  minor  prophets  are  prone  when  their  predic- 
tions chance  to  be  verified,  but  this  was  checked 
by  her  constitutional  timidity.  She  was  horribly 
afraid  of  the  effect  that  the  revelation  might  have 
on  her  patroness.  Therefore  what  precise  mean- 
ing was  implied  by  the  complicated  contortions  of 
her  countenance  no  mortal  can  guess  or  know. 
Her  sensations  probably  resolved  themselves  into 
an  excess  of  admiration  for  the  Pastor  in  his  new 
character  of  a  denouncer  of  detected  guilt,  and 
champion  of  imperilled  innocence  ;  added  to  which 
was  a  vague  desire  to  launch  her  own  Anathema 
Maranatha  at  Royston  Keene. 

Dick  Tresilyan  took  the  whole  thing  with  re- 
markable coolness,  not  to  say  complacency.  He 
nodded  his  head,  and  smiled,  and  winked  cun- 
ningly aside  at  Molyneux,  as  if  to  intimate  that 
he  had  known  all  about  it  long  ago ;  and  indeed 
so  far  he  had  been  admitted  into  the  Major's  con- 
fidence on  the  night  when  the  latter  was  supposed 

18*  N 


210  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

to  have  "  lost  his  head."  By  what  sophistries 
Rojstoii  had  succeeded  in  masking  his  purpose 
and  making  his  case  good,  even  to  such  an  unsus- 
picious mind  and  easy  morality,  the  de\dl  could 
best  tell,  who  in  such  schemes  had  rarely  failed 
him. 

We  have  left  Cecil  to  the  last.  My  proud,  beau- 
tiful Cecil  —  was  she  not  born  for  better  things, 
than  to  be  made  the  prize  of  all  those  plottings 
and  counter-plottings  —  to  surrender  the  key  of 
her  heart's  treasures  to  one  who  was  unworthy 
to  kiss  the  hem  of  her  robe  —  and  now  to  have 
her  self-command  tried  so  cruelly,  to  gratify  the 
wounded  vanity  of  a  weak,  shallow  enthusiast  ? 

She  did  not  flinch  or  start  when  Mr.  Fullarton's 
words  caught  her  ear,  but  a  heavy,  chill  faintness 
stole  over  her,  till  slie  felt  all  her  limbs  benumbed, 
and  everything  before  her  eyes  grew  misty  and 
dim.  The  numbness  passed  away  almost  immedi- 
ately, but  still  the  figures  around  her  appeared  dis- 
torted and  fantastically  exaggerated  ;  they  seemed 
to  be  tossing  and  whirling  round  one  steadfast 
centre,  as  the  dead  leaves  in  winter  eddy  round 
the  marble  head  of  a  statue ;  that  single  centre- 
object  remained,  throughout,  distinct  and  unal- 
tered in  its  aspect,  while  all  else  was  confused  and 
uncertain — the  face  of  Royston  Keene.  The  sight 
of  that  face  —  not  defiant  or  even  stern,  but  im- 
mutable in  its  cold  tranquillity  —  acted  on  Cecil 
as  a  magic  restorative  :   it  seemed  as  though  he 


SWORD    AND     GOWN.  211 

were  able,  by  some  mesmeric  influence,  to  impart 
to  her  a  portion  of  liis  own  miraculous  self-control. 
Before  his  reply  to  the  Chaplain  was  ended,  she 
threw  back  her  proud  head  with  the  old  imperial 
gesture,  as  if  scorning  her  own  momentary  weak- 
ness ;  no  mist  or  shadow  clouded  the  brilliant  vio- 
let eyes  ;  she  might  speak  safely  now,  without 
risking  a  false  note  in  the  music.  It  was  no  light 
peril  that  she  escaped  ;  the  betrayal  of  emotion 
under  such  circumstances  would  have  weighed 
down  a  meeker  spirit  than  The  Tresilyan's  with  a 
sense  of  ineffaceable  shame  ;  for  remember — how- 
ever marked  her  partiality  for  Keene  might  have 
been  —  there  had  been  no  suspicion  of  an  engage- 
ment between  them.  Had  she  broken  down  then, 
she  would  not  have  forgiven  Royston  to  her  dying 
day  :  she  never  did  forgive  the  Chaplain.  As  it 
was  —  by  a  strange  anomaly — at  the  very  moment 
when  she  became  aware  of  having  been  deluded 
and  misled,  in  intention  if  not  by  actually  spoken 
words  —  when  she  had  most  reason  to  hate  or  de- 
spise the  "  enemy  who  had  done  her  this  dishonor  " 
—  she  felt  his  hold  upon  her  heart  strengthened, 
as  though  he  had  justified  his  right  to  command  it. 
Not  to  women  alone,  but  to  all  beautiful,  wild 
creatures,  the  ancient  aphorism  applies :  the  harder 
they  are  to  discipline,  the  l^etter  they  love  their 
tamer.  Cecil  thought,  ''  there  is  not  another  man 
alive  whose  eyes  could  meet  mine  so  daringly ; ' ' 
and  the  haughty  spirit  bowed  itself,  and  did  obci- 


212  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

sance  to  its  suzerain.  Different  in  many  respects 
as  Good  can  be  from  Evil — in  one,  those  two  were 
as  fairly  matched  as  Thiodolf  and  Isolde.  Who 
can  tell  what  wealth  of  happiness  might  have  been 
stored  np  for  both,  if  they  had  only  not  met  —  too 
late? 

These  two  words  seem  to  me  the  most  of  any 
that  are  written  or  spoken.  They  strike  the  key- 
note of  so  many  human  agonies,  that  they  might 
form  a  motto,  apter  than  Dante's,  for  the  gates  of 
Hell.  Yery  few  may  hear  them  without  a  mel- 
ancholy thrill ;  well  —  if  they  do  not  bring  a  bitter 
pang.  Like  those  awful  conjurations  that  blanched 
in  utterance  the  lips  of  the  boldest  Magi,  they  have 
a  fearful  power  to  wake  the  dead.  Lo !  they  are 
scarcely  syllabled  when  there  is  a  stir  in  the  grave- 
yard where  sad  or  guilty  memories  lie  buried  ;  the 
air  is  alive  with  phantoms  ;  the  watcher  may  close 
his  eyes  if  he  will :  not  the  less  is  he  sensible  of 
the  presence  of  those  pale  ghosts  that  come  troop- 
ing to  their  vengeance.  Many,  many  hours  must 
pass  before  the  spell  is  learned  that  will  send  them 
back  to  their  tombs  again. 

Not  long  ago  I  heard  a  story  that  bears  upon 
this.  The  man  of  whom  it  was  told  lost  his  love 
after  he  had  fairly  wooed  and  won  her.  It  matters 
not  what  suspicion,  or  misconception,  or  treachery 
parted  them ;  but  parted  they  were  for  eight  mis- 
erable years.  Then  the  lady  repented  or  relented, 
and  came  to  her  lover  to  make  her  confession. 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  213 

When  she  had  done  speaking,  she  looked  up  into 
his  face  :  she  saw  no  light  of  gladness  or  welcome 
there,  —  only  a  deepening  and  darkening  of  the 
weary  look  of  pain :  the  arms  whose  last  tender 
clasp  she  had  not  forgotten  yet,  never  opened  to 
draw  her  to  his  breast.  He  bent  his  head  down 
upon  his  shakmg  hands,  and  the  heavy  drops  that 
are  sometimes  wrung  from  strong  men  in  their 
agony  began  to  trickle  through  his  fingers.  In 
old  days  he  could  never  bear  to  see  her  sad  for  a 
moment ;  now  he  sat  as  though  he  heard  her  not, 
while  she  lay  at  his  feet,  wailing  to  be  forgiven. 
When  he  could  perfectly  control  his  voice,  he 
said :  — 

"  More  than  once,  in  my  dreams,  I  have  seen 
you  so,  and  I  have  heard  you  say  what  you  have 
said  to-day.  I  answered  then  as  I  answer  now,  — 
I  never  can  forgive  you.  I  do  not  know  that  you 
would  not  regain  your  old  ascendency :  I  believe 
you  are  as  dangerous,  and  I  as  weak,  as  ever. 
But  I  do  know  that,  the  more  fascinating  I  found 
you,  the  harder  it  would  be  to  bear.  Thinking  of 
what  I  had  missed  through  that  accursed  time  of 
famine,  would  drive  me  mad  soon.  I  have  got 
used  to  my  present  burden :  I  won't  give  you  the 
chance  of  making  it  heavier.  Those  tears  of  mine 
were  selfish  as  well  as  childish :  they  were  given 
to  the  happiness  and  hope  that  you  killed  eight 
years  ago.  Stay  ;  we  parted  with  a  show  of  kind- 
ness then :  we  will  not  part  in  anger  now." 


214  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

He  laid  his  lips  on  her  forehead  as  he  raised  her 
up,  —  a.  grave,  cold,  passionless  kiss,  such  as  is 
pressed  on  the  brow  of  a  dear  friend  lying  in  his 
shroud.     They  never  met  alone  again. 

It  is  exasperating  to  think  how  long  I  have 
taken  to  describe  events  and  emotions  that  passed 
in  the  space  of  a  few  minutes  ;  but  to  place  all  the 
dramatis  personam  in  their  proper  positions  does 
take  time,  unless  the  stage-manager  is  very  expe- 
rienced. "Will  you  be  good  enough  to  imagine  the 
picnic  broken  up,  (not  in  confusion,)  and  the 
"  strayed  revellers "  on  their  way  to  Dorade  ? 
Nothing  worthy  of  note  occurred  on  the  spot ;  a 
commonplace  conversation  having  been  started  and 
maintained  in  a  way  equally  creditable  to  all  par- 
ties concerned. 


CHAPTER    XYII. 

ALL  the  inquiries  that  the  Chaplain  had  "  felt 
it  his  duty  "  to  make  respecting  the  antece- 
dents of  Royston  Keene  had  failed  to  elicit  any- 
thing more  discreditable  than  may  be  said  of  the 
generality  of  men  who  have  spent  a  dozen  years  in 
rather  a  fast  regiment,  keeping  up  to  the  standard 
of  the  corps.  Doubtless  graver  charges  might  have 
been  imputed  to  him,  if  the  whole  truth  had  been 
known  :  but  the  living  witnesses  who  could  have 
proved  them  had  good  reasons  for  their  silence. 
Whether  successful  or  defeated,  the  Cool  Captain 
was  not  wont  to  take  the  world  into  his  confidence. 
As  for  betraying  his  own  or  another's  secrets  — 
his  lips  were  about  as  likely  to  do  that  as  those  of 
an  effigy  on  a  tombstone. 

Naples  was  a  cover  that  the  reverend  investiga- 
tor had  not  drawn  ;  so  he  was  considerably  startled 
by  the  following  words  in  a  letter  from  thence,  * 
received  that  morning  :  "I  meet  a  lady  constantly 
in  society  here,  of  whose  history  I  am  curious  to 
know  more.  She  is  the  wife  of  Major  Keene,  the 
famous  Lidian  sahreur^  but  has  been  separated 
from  him  for  several  years.     She  never  makes  an 


216  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

allusion  to  his  existence ;  it  was  by  the  merest 
chance  that  I  heard  this,  and  also  that  her  hus- 
band is  spending  the  winter  at  Dorade.  Perhaps 
you  can  throw  some  light  on  the  cause  of  the  '  sep- 
arate maintenance  '  ?  People  are  not  particular 
here,  and  have  no  right  to  be  :  still,  one  would 
like  to  know.  I  fancy  it  cannot  be  her  fault :  she 
is  perfectly  gentle  in  her  manner,  but  rather  cold 
— very  beautiful  too,  in  a  placid,  statuesque  style." 
It  is  not  worth  transcribing  the  writer's  further 
speculations.  If  a  silent,  but  ultra-fervent  bene- 
diction can  at  all  profit  the  person  for  whom  it  is 
intended,  very  few  people  have  been  so  well  paid 
for  epistolary  labor  as  was  then  Mr.  Fullarton's 
correspondent.  The  reason  why  has  already  been 
explained. 

Well,  he  had  made  his  great  coup  without  care- 
fully counting  the  cost,  —  that  financial  pleasure 
was  still  to  come.  He  could  not  help  feeling  that 
it  had  been  rather  a  fiasco.  The  man  whom  he 
had  purposed  utterly  to  discomfit  had  throughout 
been  provokingly  at  his  ease  ;  the  best  that  could 
be  made  of  it  was,  a  drawn  battle.  A  disagreea- 
ble consciousness  crept  over  the  Chaplain  of  having 
made  himself  generally  obnoxious,  without  reaping 
any  equivalent  advantage  or  even  satisfaction  No 
one  seemed  to  look  kindly  or  admiringly  at  him 
since  the  disclosure,  except  Mrs.  Danvers  ;  and, 
glutton  as  he  was  of  such  dainties,  the  adulation 
of  that  exemplary  but  unattractive  female  began 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  217 

rather  to  pall  on  his  palate.  He  was  clear-sighted 
enough  to  be  aware  that  Miss  Tresilyan  was  proba- 
h\j  offended  with  him  beyond  hope  of  reconcilia- 
tion, but  this  did  not  greatly  trouble  him.  He 
had  been  sensible  for  some  time  of  the  decay  of 
his  influence  in  that  quarter.  Last  of  all  rose  on 
his  mind,  with  unpleasant  distinctness,  Cecil's 
warning,  —  ^'  If  I  were  a  man  I  should  not  like 
to  have  Major  Keene  as  my  enemy."  He  had 
thrown  the  lance  over  that  enemy's  frontier,  and 
it  was  now  too  late  to  talk  of  truce  ;  a  dread  of 
the  consequences  overcame  him  as  he  thought  of 
the  reprisals  that  might  be  exacted  by  the  merci- 
less and  unscrupulous  Guerilla.  True,  it  was  not 
very  evident  what  harm  the  latter  could  do  him  ; 
nevertheless,  he  could  not  shake  off  a  vague,  de- 
pressing apprehension.  More  and  more,  as  he 
strolled  on  moodily  musing,  far  in  the  rear  of  the 
rest,  he  felt  inclined  to  appreciate  the  wisdom  of 
the  ancient  proverb,  "  Let  sleeping  dogs  lie." 
Years  afterwards  he  remembered  with  what  a 
startled  thrill,  raising  his  eyes  at  a  sharp  angle  of 
the  path,  he  found  himself  face  to  face  with  Roy- 
ston  Keene. 

For  some  seconds  they  contemplated  each  other 
silently  —  the  Priest  and  the  Soldier.  A  striking- 
contrast  they  made.  The  one  heated  and  excited 
and  nervous,  both  in  appearance  and  manner,  look- 
ing more  like  a  culprit  brought  uj)  for  judgment 
than  a  pillar  of  the  Established  Church  :  the  other 

19 


218  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

outwardly  as  undemonstrative  as  the  rock  against 
which  he  leant ; — just  a  shade  of  paleness  telling 
of  the  sharp  mental  struggle  from  which  he  had 
come  out  victorious  ;  —  his  whole  bearing  and  de- 
meanor precisely  what  might  have  been  expected 
if  he  had  been  sitting  on  a  court-martial. 

The  absurdity  of  the  position  struck  the  Chap- 
lain as  soon  as  he  collected  himself  from  the  first 
surprise.  It  never  would  do  for  him  to  look  as 
if  he  had  anything  to  be  ashamed  of ;  so,  summon- 
ing to  his  aid  all  the  dignity  of  his  office  and  his 
own  self-importance  with  a  great  effort,  he  spoke 
steadily  — 

"  I  presume  you  wish  to  talk  to  me.  Major 
Keene  ?  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  anything  that  you 
may  have  to  communicate  or  exiDlain.  It  is  my 
duty  as  well  as  my  desire  to  be  useful  to  any  mem- 
ber of  my  congregation,  however  little  disposed 
they  may  be  to  avail  themselves  of  their  privileges. 
Interested,  as  I  must  be,  in  the  welfare  of  all  com- 
mitted to  my  charge,  I  need  hardly  say  that  the 
course  you  have  chosen  to  pursue  here  has  caused 
me  great  pain  and  anxiety,  —  I  own,  not  so  much 
for  your  sake,  as  that  of  others,  to  whom  your  in- 
fluence was  likely  to  be  pernicious.  What  I  heard 
this  morning  makes  matters  look  still  worse.  I 
wish  I  could  anticipate  any  satisfactory  explana- 
tion." 

The  old  ex-cathedrd  feeling  came  back  upon 
him  while  he  was  speaking :  his  tone,  gradually 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  210 

becoming  rounder  and  more  sonorous,  showed  this. 
Was  he  so  besotted  by  sacerdotal  confidence,  as  to 
fancy  that  he  could  win  that  grim  penitent  to  come 
to  him  to  be  confessed  or  absolved  ? 

Since  the  Chaplain  first  saw  him,  Royston  had 
never  changed  his  attitude.  He  was  leaning  with 
his  shoulder  against  t\\Q  corner  of  a  rock  round 
which  the  path  turned,  standing  half  across  it,  so 
that  no  one  could  pass  him  easily.  The  dense  blue 
cloudlets  of  smoke  kept  rolling  out  from  his  lips 
rapidly  but  regularly,  and  his  right  hand  twined 
itself  perpetually  in  the  coils  of  his  heavy  brown 
moustache.  That  gesture,  to  those  who  knew  his 
temper  well,  was  ever  ominous  of  foid  and  stormy 
weather.  He  did  not  reply  immediately  ;  but, 
takino*  the  cio'ar  from  his  mouth,  be^an  twistino; 
up  the  loose  leaf  in  a  slow  deliberative  way.  At 
last  he  said  — 

"  You  did  that  rather  well  this  morning.  How 
much  did  you  expect  to  get  for  it  ?  My  wife  is 
liberal  enougli  in  her  promises  sometimes,  when 
she  wants  to  make  herself  disagreeable  ;  but  she 
don't  pay  well.  You  might  have  driven  a  better 
bargain  by  coming  to  me.  I  would  have  given 
you  more  to  have  held  your  tongue."  His  tone 
was  such  as  the  other  had  never  heard  him  use  — 
such  as  most  people  would  be  loath  to  employ  to- 
wards the  meanest  dependant.  No  description  can 
do  justice  to  the  intensity  of  its  insolence  ;  it  made 
even  Mr.  FuUarton's  torpid  blood  boil  resentfully. 


220  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

"  How  dare  yoii  address  such  words  to  me  ? '' 
he  cried  out,  trembling  with  rage  ;  "  if  it  were  not 
for  my  profession  —  " 

"  Stop  !  "  the  other  broke  in,  rudely,  "  you  need 
not  trouble  yourself  to  repeat  that  stale  clap-trap. 
You  mean  to  say  that,  if  I  were  not  safe  from  your 
profession,  I  should  not  have  said  so  much.  It 
is  n't  worth  while  lying  to  yourself,  and  I  have  no 
time  to  trifle.  The  converse  is  the  truer  way  of 
putting  it.  You  know  better  than  I  can  tell  you, 
that,  if  you  had  been  unfrocked,  you  would  never 
have  ventured  half  what  you  have  done  to-day. 
You  don't  stir  from  hence  till  this  is  settled.  Do 
you  suppose  I  '11  allow  my  private  affairs  to  be 
made,  again,  an  occasion  for  indulging  your  taste 
for  theatricals  ? " 

The  Chaplain  flushed  apoplectically ;  he  just 
managed  to  stammer  out  — 

"  I  will  not  remain  another  instant  to  listen  to 
your  blasphemous  insults.  If  you  mean  to  prevent 
me  from  passing,  I  will  return  another  way." 

Scornfully 
He  turned  ;  but  thrilled  with  priestly  wrath,  to  feel 
His  sacred  arm  locked  in  a  grasp  of  steel. 

A  bolder  man  might  have  got  nervou-s,  finding 
himself  on  a  lonely  hill-side,  face  to  face  with  such 
an  adversary ;  reading,  too,  the  savage  meaning 
of  those  murderous  eyes.  Remember  that  Mr. 
Fullarton  held  Royston  capable  of  any  earthly 
crime.     His   own  short-lived  anger  was  instantly 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  221 

annihilated  ;  the  sweat  of  mortal  terror  broke  out 
over  all  his  livid  face  ;  his  lips  could  hardly  gasp 
out  an  unintelligible  prayer  for  mercy. 

The  soldier's  stern  face  settled  into  an  expres- 
sion of  contempt ;  in  his  gentlest  moods  he  could 
find  little  sympathy  for  purely  physical  fear. 

"  Don't  faint,"  he  said  ;  "  there  is  no  occasion 
for  it.  Do  you  think  I  shall  '  slay  you  as  I  slew 
the  Egyptian  yesterday  '  ?  Well,  I  have  scanty 
respect  for  your  office,  especially  when  its  privi- 
leges are  abused.  If  it  were  not  for  good  reasons, 
I  would  serve  you  worse  than  I  did  that  drunken 
scoundrel  who  frightened  you  almost  to  death 
down  there  among  the  vines.  But  that  don't  suit 
my  purpose.  Listen  —  if  you  dare  to  interfere 
again,  by  word,  or  deed,  or  sign,  in  the  affairs  of 
me  and  mine,  I  know  a  better  way  of  making  you 
repent  it." 

As  soon  as  he  saw  that  there  was  no  real  danger 
to  life  or  limb,  the  Chaplain's  composure  began  to 
return  ;  he  launched  forth  immediately  into  a  gal- 
lant, though  incoherent  defiance.  Royston's  fea- 
tures never  for  an  instant  changed,  or  softened  in 
their  scorn. 

"  Fair  words,"  he  retorted,  ''  but  I  '11  make  your 
bubbles  burst.  You  don't  monopolize  all  the  re- 
sources of  the  Private  Inquiry  Office  ;  "  and,  stoop- 
ing down,  he  wliispcrcd  a  dozen  words  in  the 
other's  ear.  They  related  to  a  charge  lirought 
against  Mr.  Fullarton,  years  ago,  —  so  circumstan- 


19* 


222  SWORD   AND   GOWN. 

tial  and  difficult  to  disprove,  that,  with  all  the 
advantages  of  counter-evidence  at  hand,  it  had 
well-nigh  borne  him  down.  He  knew  right  well 
that  if  it  were  once  revived  here  abroad,  where 
the  lightest  suspicion  is  caught  up  and  used  so 
readily,  the  consequences  would  be  nothing  short 
of  utter  ruin.  He  was  a  poor  man,  with  a  large 
family  ;  no  wonder  if  he  quailed. 

"  You  know  —  you  know,"  he  gasped,  "•  that  it 
is  a  vile,  cruel  falsehood." 

To  do  him  justice,  he 'spoke  the  simple  truth 
there. 

With  a  cold,  tranquil  satisfaction,  the  Major 
contemplated  his  victim's  agony. 

''  I  choose  to  know  nothing  about  it,  except  that 
it  carries  more  probability  than  most  stories  one 
hears.  The  world  in  general  is,  fortunately,  not 
incredulous,  and  I  have  seen  a  man  '  broke  '  on 
lighter  evidence.  AVell,  you  will  take  your  own 
course  ;  and  I  shall  take  mine.  I  fancy  we  un- 
derstand each  other  —  at  last." 

By  a  superhuman  effort  the  unlucky  ecclesiastic 
did  contrive  to  mutter  something  about  his  "  deter- 
mination to  do  his  duty."  Royston  listened  to 
him  with  his  worst  smile. 

"  I  '11  take  my  chance  about  that,"  he  said ; 
"  I  feel  tolerably  safe.  Now,  I  '11  leave  you  to 
settle  the  affair  between  your  interest  and  your 
conscience." 

He  turned  on  his  heel,  and  strode  away  without 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  223 

another  word.  Long  after  he  was  out  of  sight, 
the  Chaplain  stood  fixed  in  the  same  attitude 
of  panic-stricken, •helpless  despondency.  By  my 
faith  !  even  in  these  degenerate  days,  we  have 
petrifying  influences  left,  that  may  match  the 
Head  of  the  Gorgon. 

Meanwhile  the  others  were  wending  slowly 
homeward ;  truly,  in  a  very  different  mood  from 
that  in  which  they  had  gone  forth  that  morning. 
Even  as  no  man  can  be  pronounced  happy  till  the 
hour  of  his  death,  so  can  no  excursion  or  enter- 
tainment be  called  successful  till  night  has  fairly 
closed  in ;  caprice  of  climate  is  only  one  of  the 
many  sources  of  disappointment  ;  and  the  event 
justifies  so  seldom  our  sanguine  predictions,  that 
we  have  little  right  to  complain  of  false  and  fallible 
barometers.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  how  often 
these  trifles  illustrate  that  trite  and  time-honored 
simile  of  Life.  The  vessel  starts  gayly  enough  ; 
heeling  over  gracefully  to  the  land-wind,  in  the 
old  approved  fashion,  —  "  Youth  at  the  prow,  and 
Pleasure  at  the  helm,"  —  there  is  not  a  misgiving 
in  the  heart  of  any  one  of  the  passengers  ;  they 
cannot  help  pitying  those  left  behind  on  the  shore ; 
what  a  cheery  adieu  they  wave  to  the  friends  who 
come  down  to  wish  them  "  good  speed."  After  a 
voyage  more  or  less  prolonged,  the  same  ship 
drifts  in  slowly  shore  wards,  over  the  harl)or-bar, 
under  the  calm  of  the  solemn  sunset.  Even  the 
deepening  twilight  cannot  disguise  the  evidences 


224  SWORD    AND     GOWN. 

of  a  terrible  "  sea-change."  Not  a  trace  of  paint 
or  gilding  remains  on  the  wave-worn,  shattered 
timbers  ;  sails  rent,  and  cordiige  strained,  tell 
tales  of  many  storm-gusts,  or  perchance  of  one 
tornado  ;  and  see,  —  her  flag  is  flying  half-mast 
high  ;  the  corpse  of  the  Pilot  is  on  board.  Let 
lis  stand  aside,  lest  we  meet  the  passengers  as  they 
land  ;  it  were  worse  than  mockery  to  ask  how  the 
yachting  trip  has  sped. 

Miss  Tresilyan  rode  somewhat  in  advance  of  the 
rest,  under  her  brother's  escort.  Dick  was  a 
model  in  his  own  line,  and  other  brothers-of-beaii- 
ties  might  well  imitate  his  moderation  and  discre- 
tion. He  never  thrust  himself  into  the  conversa- 
tion or  into  her  presence,  when  there  was  a  chance 
of  his  intrusion  being  ill-timed  ;  but  was  always  at 
hand  when  he  was  wanted :  the  slightest  sign,  or 
even  a  glance  from  Cecil,  brought  him  to  her  side  ; 
and  there  he  would  march  for  hours,  in  silent  but 
perfect  satisfaction.  On  the  present  occasion  he 
seemed  disposed  to  be  unwontedly  talkative,  and 
to  indulge  in  certain  speculations  relative  to  the 
intelligence  they  had  just  heard.  It  was  true,  he 
knew  it  before  ;  but  nothing  had  been  disclosed  to 
him  beyond  the  simple  fact,  that  Royston  was  mar- 
ried, and  married  unhappily.  Cecil  checked  him 
gently,  but  very  decidedly. 

"  I  had  rather  not  hear  or  say  one  word  on  the 
subject ;  it  ought  not  to  interest  either  of  us.  In 
good  time,  I  suppose,  we  shall  be  told  all  that  it  is 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  225 

fitting  we  should  know ;  meanwhile,  it  would  be 
very  wrong  to  make  conjectures.  Xo  one  has  any 
right  to  pry  into  Major  Keene's  affairs  if  he 
chooses  to  keep  them  secret.  I  do  not  believe  any 
one  ever  did  so,  even  in  thought,  without  repent- 
ing it.  I  daresay  Mr.  FuUarton  will  find  this  out, 
soon ;  and  I  shall  not  pity  him  in  the  least.  A 
person  ought  to  be  punished  who  tries  to  startle 
people  in  that  disagreeable  way.  Did  you  hear 
Fanny's  little  shriek?  I  have  not  had  time  to 
laugh  at  her  about  it,  yet ;  the  path  is  too  narrow 
for  two  to  ride  abreast." 

The  light  tone  and  manner  of  her  last  words 
might  have  deceived  a  closer  observer  than  honest 
Dick  Tresilyan.  He  lapsed  into  silence  ;  but,  after 
some  time,  his  meditations  assumed  a  cheerfully 
roseate  hue,  as  they  resolved  themselves  into  the 
fixed  idea,  that  Royston  was  lingering  behind  "  to 
have  it  out  with  the  parson." 

Some  distance  in  the  rear  walked  Harry  Moly- 
neux,  holding  dutifully  his  wife's  bridle-rein.  It 
was  very  touching  to  see  the  diffidence  and  humil- 
ity with  which  he  proffered  his  little  attentions, 
which  were  accepted,  as  it  were,  under  protest. 
The  truth  was,  that  la  mignonne  had  forgiven  him 
already,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  she  re- 
frained from  telling  him  so,  by  word  or  smile. 
Her  soft  heart  melted  within  her  at  the  sight  of 
the  criminal's  contrition,  and  decided  that  he  had 
done  penance  enough  during  the  last  half-hour  to 


226  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

atone  for  a  graver  misdemeanor.  But  she  deferred 
asking  for  explanations  till  a  more  convenient  sea- 
son, when  there  should  be  no  chance  of  interrup- 
tion ;  and  meanwhile,  on  grounds  of  stern  political 
necessity,  elle  le  boudait.  (If  any  elegant  scholar 
will  translate  that  Gallicism  for  me  literally,  I  shall 
feel  obliged  to  him.) 

Fancy  the  sensations  of  a  man  fighting  his  frig- 
ate desperately  against  overwhelming  odds,  when 
he  sees  the  outline  of  a  huge  "  liner,"  with  Eng- 
lish colors  at  the  main,  looming  dimly  through  the 
smoke,  close  on  the  enemy's  quarter ;  or  those  of 
the  commander  of  an  untenable  post,  when  the 
first  bayonets  of  the  relieving  force  glitter  over  the 
crest  of  the  hill,  and  you  will  have  a  fair  idea  of 
Harry's  relief  as  he  looked  back  and  saw  Keene 
rapidly  gaining  on  them  with  his  swift,  slashing 
stride.  As  he  fell  back  and  yielded  his  post  to 
Royston,  this  was  written  so  plainly  on  his  face 
that  the  latter  could  not  repress  a  smile  ;  but  there 
was  little  mirth  in  his  voice  when  he  addressed 
Fanny,  —  she  had  never  heard  him  speak  so  gently 
and  gravely,  —  "I  know  that  you  are  angry  with 
your  husband  as  well  as  with  me  for  keeping  you 
in  the  dark  so  long.  I  must  make  his  peace  with 
you,  even  if  I  fail  in  making  my  own.  He  could 
not  tell  you  one  word  without  breaking  a  promise 
given  years  ago :  if  he  had  done  so,  in  spite  of  the 
excuse  of  the  strong  temptation,  I  would  never 
have  trusted  him  again.     Ah,  I  see  you  have  done 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  227 

liim  justice  already  :  that  is  good  of  you.  Now  for 
my  own  part :  why  I  did  not  choose  to  let  you  into 
the  secret  as  soon  as  I  began  to  know  you  well,  I 
can  hardly  say.  Hal  will  tell  you  all  about  it ;  and 
you  will  see  that  for  once  I  was  more  sinned  against 
than  sinning.  So,  I  was  not  afraid  of  your  think- 
ing worse  of  me  for  it.  Perhaps  the  last  thing 
that  a  man  likes  to  confess  is  his  one  arch  piece  of 
folly,  especially  if  he  has  paid  for  it  as  heavy  a 
price  as  attaches  to  most  crimes.  I  think  I  am  not 
sorry  that  you  were  kept  in  the  dark  till  now :  the 
past  has  given  me  some  pleasant  hours  with  you 
that  might  have  been  darkened  if  you  had  known 
all.  I  wisli  you  would  forgive  me.  We  have 
always  been  such  good  friends ;  and,  in  your  sex 
at  least,  I  can  reckon  so  few." 

If  he  had  spoken  with  his  ordinary  accent, 
Fanny  would  scarcely  have  yielded  so  readily  ; 
but  the  strange  sadness  of  his  tone  moved  her 
deeply.  A  mist  gathered  in  her  gentle  eyes,  as 
she  looked  at  him  for  some  moments  in  silence, 
and  then  held  out  a  timid  little  tremulous  hand. 

"  I  should  not  have  liked  you  worse  for  knowing 
that  you  had  been  imhappy  once,"  she  whispered  ; 
"but  I  ought  never  to  have  been  vexed  at  not 
being  taken  into  confidence.  I  don't  think  I  am 
wise  or  steady  enough  to  keep  secrets ;  only  I  wish 
—  I  do  wish  —  that  you  had  told  Cecil  Tresilyan." 

He  answered  her  in  his  old  cool,  provoking 
way,  "  I  know  what  you  mean  to  imply  ;  but  you 


228  SWORD     AND    GOWN. 

do  Miss  Tresilyan  less  than  justice,  and  me  too 
much  honor.  What  right  have  you  to  infer  that 
I  look  upon  her  in  any  other  light  than  a  very 
charming  acquaintance,  or  that  she  feels  any 
deeper  interest  in  to-day's  revelation  than  if  she 
had  heard  imexpectedly  that  any  one  of  her 
friends  was  married  ?  Surprises  are  seldom  agree- 
able, especially  when  they  are  so  clumsily  brought 
about.  I  am  sure  she  has  not  told  you  anything 
to  justify  your  suspicions." 

Fanny  was  the  worst  casuist  out.  She  was 
seldom  certain  about  her  facts,  and  when  she 
happened  to  be  so  had  not  sufficient  pertinacity 
or  confidence  to  push  her  advantage.  Her  favor- 
ite argument  was  ever  ad  misericordiam.  "  I 
wish  I  could  quite  believe  you,"  she  said,  plain- 
tively ;  "  but  I  can't,  and  it  makes  me  very  un- 
happy.    You  must  see  that  you  ought  to  go." 

Her  evident  fear  of  him  touched  Royston  more 
sharply  than  the  most  venomous  reproach  or  the 
most  elaborate  sarcasm  could  have  done ;  but  he 
would  not  betray  how  it  galled  him.  "  Three  days 
ago,"  he  replied,  "  I  had  almost  decided  on  de- 
parture ;  now  it  does  not  altogether  depend  on  me. 
But  you  need  not  be  afraid.  I  shall  not  worry  you 
long;  and  while  I  stay,  I  have  no  wish,  and  I  be- 
lieve no  power,  to  do  any  one  any  harm."  She 
looked  at  him  long  and  earnestly,  but  failed  to 
extract  any  further  confession  from  the  impene- 
trable face.     Keene  would  not  give  her  the  chance 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  229 

of  pursuing  the  subject,  but  called  up  Harry  to 
help  him  in  turning  the  conversation  into  a  differ- 
ent channel  and  keeping  it  there.  Between  the 
two  they  held  the  anxieties  and  curiosities  of 
the  oppressed  Mignoiine  at  bay  till  they  entered 

Dorade. 

They  were  obliged  to  pass  the  Terrasse  on  their 
way  home  :  there,  alone,  under  the  shadow  of  the 
palms,  sat  Armand  de  Chateaumesnil.  The  inva- 
lid's great  haggard  eyes  fixed  themselves  observ- 
antly on  Cecil  Tresilyan  as  she  went  by.  He  laid 
his  hand  on  the  Major's  sleeve  when  he  came  to 
his  side,  and  said,  in  a  hoarse  whisper,  "  Qu'as  tu 
fait  done,  pour  I'atterrer  ainsi  ?  "  The  other  met 
the  searching  gaze  without  flinching,  "  Je  n'en 
sais  rien  ;  seulement — on  dit  que  je  suis  marie." 
If  the  Algerian  had  been  told  on  indisputable 
authority  that  Paris  and  its  inhabitants  had  just 
been  swallowed  up  by  an  earthquake,  he  would 
only  have  raised  his  shaggy  brows  in  a  faint  ex- 
pression of  surprise,  exactly  as  he  did  now.  "  Tu 
es  marie?"  he  growled  out.  "A  laquelle  done 
des  deux  doit  on  compatir — Madame  ou  Mademoi- 
selle ?  "  Yet  he  did  not  like  Keene  the  worse  for 
the  impatient  gesture  with  whicli  the  latter  shook 
himself  loose,  muttering,  "  Je  vous  croyais  trop 
sage,  M.  le  Yicomte,  pour  vous  amuser  avec  ces 
balivernes  do  romancier." 

Fanny  Molyneux  and  Cecil  passed  the  evening 
together  tete-ci-tete.     That  kind  little  ci^eature  had 

20 


230  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

a  way  of  taking  other  people's  turn  of  duty  in  the 
line  of  penitence  and  apology.  On  the  present 
occasion  she  was  remarkably  gushing  in  her  con- 
trition, though  her  own  guilt  was  infinitesimal ; 
but  she  met  with  scanty  encouragement.  She  had 
found  time  to  extract  from  Harry  all  the  details  of 
the  matrimonial  misadventure,  and  wished  to  give 
her  friend  the  benefit  of  them.  Miss  Tresilyan 
would  not  listen  to  a  word.  She  did  not  attempt 
to  disguise  the  interest  she  felt  in  the  subject,  but 
said  that  she  preferred  hearing  the  circumstances 
from  Royston's  own  lips.  With  all  this  her  man- 
ner had  never  been  more  gentle  and  caressing : 
she  succeeded  at  last  in  deluding  Fanny  into  the 
belief  that  everybody  was  perfectly  heart-whole, 
and  that  no  harm  had  been  done,  so  that  that  night 
la  mignonne  slept  the  sleep  of  the  innocent,  no 
misgivings  or  forebodings  troubling  her  dreams. 
Those  brave  women  !  —  when  I  think  of  the  pangs 
that  they  suffer  uncomplainingly,  the  agonies  that 
they  dissemble,  I  am  inclined  to  esteem  lightly  our 
own  claims  to  the  Cross  of  Valor.  How  many  of 
them  there  are  who,  covering  with  their  white  hand 
the  dagger's  hilt,  utter  with  a  sweet  calm  smile,  and 
lips  that  never  tremble,  the  falsehood  holier  than 
most  outspoken  truths  —  Pcetus  non  angit ! 

When  Cecil  returned  home  Mrs.  Danvers  was 
waiting  for  her,  ready  with  any  amount  of  condo- 
lence and  indignation.  She  checked  all  this,  as 
she  well  knew  how  to  do  ;  and  at  last  was  alone  in 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  231 

lier  own  chamber.  Then  the  reaction  came  on  ; 
with  natures  such  as  hers,  it  is  a  torture  not  to  be 
forgotten  while  hfe  shall  endure. 

There  Avere  not  wanting  in  Dorade  admirers  and 
sentimentalists,  who  were  wont  to  watch  the  win- 
dows of  The  Trcsiljan,  as  long  as  light  lingered 
there.  How  those  patient,  unrequited  astrono- 
mers would  have  been  startled,  if  their  eyes  had 
been  sharp  enough  to  penetrate  the  dark  recess 
where  she  lay  writhing  and  prone,  —  her  stricken 
face  veiled  by  the  masses  of  her  loosened  hair,  — 
her  slender  hands  clenched  till  the  blood  stood  still 
in  their  veins,  in  an  agony  of  stormy  self-reproach 
and  fiery  longing,  and  injured  pride  ;  or  if  their 
ears  had  caught  the  sound  of  the  low,  bitter  wail 
that  went  up  to  Heaven  like  the  cry  from  Ge- 
henna of  some  fair,  lost  spirit,  ^'  My  shame  —  my 
shame  !  " 

Under  favor  of  the  audience,  we  will  drop  the 
curtain  here.  One  of  our  puppets  shall  ap|>ear, 
to-night,  no  more.  When  a  heroine  is  once  on 
the  stage,  the  public  has  a  right  to  be  indulged 
with  the  spectacle  of  her  faults  and  follies,  as  well 
as  of  her  virtues  and  excellences  ;  yet  I  love  the 
phantasm  of  my  queenly  Cecil  too  well  to  parade 
her  discrowned  and  in  abasement. 


CHAPTER    XYIII. 

OTHER  eyes  besides  Cecil's  kept  watch  through 
the  night  that  followed  that  eventful  day. 
Royston's  never  closed  till  the  dawning.  Some- 
times sitting  motionless,  sunk  in  his  gloomy  medi- 
tations, sometimes  walking  restlessly  to  and  fro, 
and  cooling  his  hot  forehead  in  the  current  of  the 
fresh  night-air,  he  kept  his  mind  on  a  perpetual 
strain,  calculating  all  probable  and  improbable 
chances  ;  and  the  dull  red  light  was  never 
quenched,  that  told  of  perpetually  renewed  cigars. 
I  fancy  I  hear  an  objection,  springing  from  lips 
that  are  wont  to  be  irresistible,  levelled  against 
such  an  atrocious  want  of  sentiment.  Fairest 
critic  !  we  will  not  now  discuss  the  merits  or  de- 
merits of  nicotine,  considered  as  an  aid  to  contem- 
plation or  an  anodyne  ;  but  do  you  allow  enough 
for  the  force  of  habit  ?  Putting  aside  the  case  of 
those  Indian  captives,  who  are  allowed  a  pipe  in 
the  intervals  of  torment,  (for  these  poor  creatures 
have  had  no  advantages  of  education,  and  are  be- 
yond the  pale  of  civilized  examples,)  do  you  not 
know  that  men  have  finished  their  last  weed  while 
submitting  to  the   toilet  of  the  guillotine  ?     We 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  233 

are  told  that  a  Spaniard  has  begged  of  his  confes- 
sor a  Hght  for  his  papeUto  within  sight  of  a  freshly 
dug  grave,  when,  the  firing-party  was  awaiting  him 
one  hundred  paces  off  with  grounded  arms. 

Only  when  the  sky  was  gray  did  Royston  lie 
down  to  rest ;  but  he  slept  heavily  late  into  the 
morning  His  first  act,  when  he  rose,  was  to  send 
a  note  to  Cecil  Tresilyan,  begging  her  to  meet  him 
at  a  named  place  and  time  :  she  did  not  answer  it. 
Xevertheless,  he  felt  certain  she  would  come.  As- 
signations were  no  novelties  to  him  ;  but  he  had 
gone  forth  to  bear  his  part  in  more  than  one 
stricken  field,  where  the  chances  of  life  and  death 
were  evenly  poised,  without  any  such  despondency 
or  uncertainty  as  clung  to  him  then  on  his  way  to 
the  appointed  spot.  He  arrived  there  first;  but 
he  had  not  waited  long  when  Cecil  came  slowly 
along  the  path  that  led  into  the  heart  of  the  wood- 
land. As  she  drew  near,  Keene  could  not  help 
thinking  of  the  first  time  his  eyes  had  lighted  on 
her,  mounting  the  zigzags  of  the  Castle-hill.  There 
was  still  the  same  elasticity  of  step,  the  same  im- 
perial carriage  of  the  graceful  head ;  but  a  less 
observant  eye  would  have  detected  the  change  in 
her  demeanor.  The  pretty  petulance  and  pro- 
vocative manner  which,  contrasting  with  the  roy- 
alty of  her  form  and  feature,  contributed  so  much 
to  her  marvellous  fascuiations,  had  departed,  he 
feared,  never  to  return. 

Many  instances  occur  daily  where  that  same  pain- 

20* 


234  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

fully  unnatural  gravity  exasperates  us,  when  its 
cause  cannot  be  traced  up  to  either  guilt  or  sorrow. 
Ah,  Lilla !  there  are  many  who  think  that  your 
wild-flower  wreath  was  a  more  becoming  ornament 
than  that  diamond  circlet  —  bridal  gift  of  the 
powerful  Baron.  Sweet  Eugenia  !  faces  that  were 
never  absent  from  your  levees  in  old  times,  you 
have  missed  at  your  court  since  you  wedded 
Csesar. 

Both  were  outwardly  quite  calm  ;  but  who  can 
guess  which  of  those  two  strong  hearts  was  most 
conscious  of  tremor  and  weakness,  when  Royston 
and  Cecil  met  ?  His  hand  at  least  was  the  steadier, 
for  her  slight  fingers  quivered  nervously  in  his 
grasp.  He  did  not  let  them  go  till  he  began  to 
speak. 

"  Whateyer  your  decision  may  be  after  hearing 
me,  I  shall  always  thank  you  for  coming  here.  It 
was  like  you  —  to  give  me  the  chance  of  speaking 
for  myself.  At  least  no  falsehood  or  misconcep- 
tion shall  stand  between  us.  Will  you  listen  to  my 
story?" 

"  I  came  for  no  other  purpose,"  Cecil  said,  and 
she  sat  down  on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  olive  :  she 
knew  there  would  be  need  to  husband  all  her 
strength.  Thinking  of  these  things,  in  after  days, 
she  never  forgot  how  carefully  he  arranged  his 
plaid  on  the  branches  behind  her,  so  as  to  keep  off 
the  gusts  of  wind  that  ever  and  anon  blew  sharply. 
At  that  very  instant,  as  if  there  were  some  strange 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  235 

sympathy  in  the  elements,  the  sun  plunged  into 
the  bosom  of  a  dull,  leaden  cloud,  and  there  came 
a  growl  of  distant  thunder. 

"  I  shall  not  tax  your  patience  long,"  Royston 
went  on.  '•  It  shall  only  be  the  briefest  outline. 
But  do  not  interrupt  mo  till  I  have  ended ;  it  is 
hard  enough  to  have  to  begin  and  go  through  with 
it.  I  cannot  tell  you  why  I  married.  Many  peo- 
ple asked  me  the  question  at  the  time,  and  I  have 
asked  it  of  myself  often  since ;  but  I  never  could 
find  any  satisfactory  answer.  The  woman  I  chose 
was  then  very  l^eautiful,  and  it  was  not  a  disad- 
vantageous match  ;  but  I  had  seen  fairer  faces 
and  fortunes  go  by  without  coveting  them.  I 
think  a  certain  obstinacy  of  purpose,  and  an  ab- 
surd pleasure  in  carrying  off  a  prize  (such  a 
prize  !)  from  many  rivals,  was  at  the  bottom  of  it 
all.  In  six  months  I  began  to  appreciate  the  in- 
conveniences of  living  with  a  statue  ;  but  I  can 
say  it  truly,  I  never  dreamt  of  betraying  her. 
Yet  I  had  temptations  :  remember  I  was  not  yet 
twenty-two,  and  one  does  not  bear  disappointments 
well  at  that  age.  We  had  not  been  married  quite 
a  year  when  an  officer  in  a  native  regiment  died, 
up  in  the  Hills,  of  delirium  tremens.  Do  you 
know  that,  under  such  circumstances,  there  is 
always  a  commission  appointed  to  examine  the 
dead  man's  papers  ?  I  could  not  help  seeing  that, 
for  some  days  past,  my  wife's  manner  had  been 
strangely  sullen  and  coM  ;  but  T  had  no  suspicion 


236  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

of  the  truth.  I  don't  think  I  have  ever  been  so 
surprised  as  when  the  president  of  the  commission 
brought  me  a  bundle  of  her  letters.  I  never  saw 
her  paramour  :  he  must  have  been  more  fool  than 
scoundrel  to  have  kept  what  he  ought  to  have 
burned.  I  did  not  thank  the  man  who  gave  me 
those  papers,  and  I  never  spoke  to  him  again.  I 
only  read  one  of  them :  it  was  written  soon  after 
our  marriage.  I  went  to  my  wife  with  this  in  my 
hand.  She  listened  to  me  in  her  own  icy  way,  not 
denying  or  confessing  anything ;  but  she  defied 
me  to  prove  actual  infidelity,  either  before  or  after 
my  authority  began.  I  could  not  do  it,  whatever 
I  might  think.  I  could  only  prove  a  course  of  lies 
and  chicaneric^  worked  out  by  her  and  all  her 
family,  that  would  have  sickened  the  most  unscru- 
pulous schemer  alive.  I  told  her  I  would  never 
sleep  under  the  same  roof  with  her  again.  She 
laughed  —  if  you  could  hear  her  laugh,  you  would 
excuse  me  for  more  than  I  have  done  —  and  said, 
'  You  can't  get  a  diA^orce.'  She  was  riglit  there. 
So  it  was  settled  that  we  were  to  live  apart  without 
any  public  scandal.  But  her  people  would  not 
accept  this  position.  They  sent  a  brother  to  bully 
me.  It  was  an  unwise  move.  My  temper  was 
wilder  in  those  days,  and  I  had  strong  provoca- 
tion ;  yet  I  repent  that  I  did  not  keep  my  hands 
off  the  throat  of  that  wretched,  blustering  civilian. 
It  was  all  arranged  peacefully  at  last,  and  I  have 
not  seen  her  since,  thcrugh  I  hear  of  her  from  time 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  237 

to  time,  as  I  did  yesterday.  This  happened  eleven 
long  years  ago,  and  she  has  never  given  me  a 
chance  of  ridding  myself  of  her  since.  She  is 
always  carefully  circumspect,  and  so  works  out  a 
patient  revenge,  though  I  believe  I  did  her  no 
wrong.  You  have  heard  all  I  dare  to  tell  you, 
and  all  the  truth.     Judge  me  now." 

For  the  last  few  minutes  a  great  battle  had  been 
waging  in  Cecil  Tresilyan's  heart.  Can  the  wisest 
of  us  —  before  the  armies  meet  —  prophecy  aright, 
as  to  the  issue  of  such  an  Armageddon  ? 

Twice  she  tried  to  speak,  and  found  her  voice 
rebellious  ;  at  last  she  answered,  in  a  faint,  broken 
tone,  "  I  cannot  say  how  I  pity  you." 

He  threw  back  his  lofty  head  in  anger  or  dis- 
dain. 

"  I  will  not  accept  groundless  compassion,  even 
from  you.  Do  not  deceive  yourself.  I  have  learnt 
how  to  bear  my  burden ;  it  scarcely  cumbers  me 
now.  It  has  fretted  me  more  in  the  last  three 
weeks  than  it  has  done  for  years.  I  only  wish  you 
to  decide  whether  I  did  very  wrong  in  keeping 
back  the  knowledge" of  all  this  from  you  ;  and,  if  I 
have  offended  unpardonably,  what  my  punishment 
shall  be." 

There  was  something  more  than  reproach  in  the 
glance  that  flashed  upon  him  out  of  the  violet 
eyes  ;  for  an  instant,  they  glittered  almost  scorn- 
fully ;  her  lip,  too,  had  ceased  to  tremble ;  and  the 
silver  in  her  voice  rang  clear  and  true,  — 


238  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

"  You  are  not  afraid  to  ask  that  question,  — 
remembering  many  words  addressed  to  me,  each 
one  of  which  was  an  insult  —  from  you  ?  You 
dare  not  yet  dishonor  me  in  your  thoughts  so  far 
as  to  doubt  how  I  should  have  acted  at  first,  if  I 
had  known  your  true  position.  Or  are  you  amus- 
ing yourself  still  at  my  expense  ?  I  had  thought 
you  more  generous." 

The  gloom  on  Royston's  face  deepened  sud- 
denly: though  he  had  schooled  himself  up  to  a 
certain  point  of  humility,  even  from  her  he  could 
ill  brook  reproof. 

"  Those  insults  were  not  premeditated,  at  least," 
he  retorted.  "  Have  you  not  got  accustomed,  yet, 
to  men's  losing  their  heads  in  your  presence,  and 
then  talking  as  the  spirit  moved  them  ?  And  you 
think  I  am  amusing  myself  now.  Merci  I  there 
runs  something  in  my  veins  warmer  than  ice- 
water." 

His  accent  was  abrupt,  even  to  rudeness  ;  yet 
Cecil  felt  a  thrill  of  guilty  triumph  as  she  heard 
it,  and  marked  the  shiver  of  passion  that  shot 
through  the  colossal  frame  from  brow  to  heel. 
A  more  perfect  specimen  of  immaculate  woman- 
hood might  not  have  been  insensible  to  that 
acknowledgment  of  her  power.  But  she  shook 
her  head  in  sorrowful  incredulity. 

"  You  do  less  than  justice  to  your  self-control. 
But  it  is  too  late  for  reproaches.  I  forgive  you  for 
any  wrong  that  you  may  have  done  me,  even  in 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  239 

tlioiiglit  or  intention.  I  wish  the  past  could  be 
buried.  For  the  future,  I  can  only  say  this,  —  we 
must  part,  and  that  instantly  ;  it  is  more  than 
time." 

Keene  had  expected  some  such  answer,  and  it 
did  not  greatly  disconcert  him.  After  pausing  a 
second  or  two,  he  said  :  — 

"  I  did  not  ask  you  for  your  decision,  without 
meaning  to  abide  by  it.  But  it  would  be  well  to 
pause  before  you  make  it  final.  Remember,  we 
shall  not  part  for  days,  or  months,  if  you  send  me 
away  now.  At  least,  you  need  not  fear  persecu- 
tion. Yet  it  is  difficult  to  reconcile  one's  self  to 
banishment.  Will  you  not  give  me  a  chance  of 
making  amends  for  the  folly  you  complain  of?  I 
cannot  promise  that  my  words  shall  always  be 
guarded,  and  my  manner  artificial ;  but  I  think  I 
would  rather  keep  your  friendship  than  win  the 
love  of  any  living  woman  ;  and  I  would  try  hard 
never  to  offend  you.  Let  us  finish  this  at  once. 
You  have  only  to-  say  '  leave  me,'  and  I  swear  that 
you  shall  be  obeyed  to  the  letter." 

On  that  last  card  hung  all  the  issue  of  the  game 
that  he  would  have  sold  his  soul  to  win  ;  yet  he 
spoke,  not  eagerly,  though  very  earnestly ;  and 
waited  quietly  for  her  reply,  with  a  face  as  calm 
as  death. 

Cecil  ought  not  to  have  hesitated  for  an  instant : 
we  all  know  that.  But  steady  resolve  and  stoical 
self-denial,  easy  enough  in  theory,  are  often  bit- 


240  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

terly  hard  in  practice.  It  is  Ycry  well  to  preach 
to  the  wayfarer,  that  his  duty  is  to  go  forward  and 
not  tarry.  But  fresh  and  green  grow  the  grasses 
round  the  Diamond  of  the  Desert ;  pleasantly  over 
its  bright  waters  droop  the  feathery  palms.  How 
drearily  the  gray,  arid  sand  stretches  away  to  the 
sky-line  !  Who  knows  how  far  it  may  be  to  the 
next  oasis  ?  Let  us  rest  yet  another  hour  by  the 
fountain. 

From  any  deliberate  intention  to  do  wrong  Cecil 
was  as  pure  as  any  canonized  saint  in  the  roll  of 
virgins  and  martyrs  ;  but,  if  she  had  been  a  volup- 
tuary as  elaborate  as  La  Pompadour,  she  could  not 
have  felt  more  keenly  that  her  love  had  increased 
tenfold  in  intensity  since  it  became  a  crime  to  in- 
dulge it.  The  passionate  energy  that  had  slum- 
bered so  long  in  her  temperament  was  thoroughly 
roused  at  last,  and  would  make  itself  heard,  clam- 
orously enough  to  drown  the  still  small  voice,  that 
said,  "  Beware  and  forbear."  Her  principles  were 
good,  but  they  were  not  strong  enough  to  hold 
their  own.  0  pride  of  the  Tresilyans !  that  had 
tempted  to  sin  so  many  of  that  haughty  house, 
when  you  might  have  saved  its  fairest  descendant, 
was  it  the  time  to  falter  and  fail  ?  She  looked  up 
piteously  in  her  great  extremity ;  there  was  a 
prayer  for  help  in  her  eyes  ;  but  between  them 
and  Heaven  was  interposed  a  stern  bronze  face, 
not  a  line  of  it  softening. 

At  length  the  faint,  broken  whisper  came  — 
"  God  help  me  !  I  cannot  say  it." 


SWORD    AND     GOWN.  241 

There  was  a  pause,  but  not  a  stillness,  for  the 
beating  of  her  companion's  heart  was  distinctly 
audible.  Then  Cecil  spoke  again  in  her  own  natu- 
ral caressing  tones. 

"  You  will  be  good  and  generous,  I  know.  See 
how  I  trust  you  !  " 

The  thought  of  how  their  continued  intimacy 
might  touch  her  fair  fame  never  seemed  to  sug- 
gest itself  for  an  instant.  Yet,  remember  The  Tre- 
silyan  was  no  longer  a  guileless  romantic  girl,  be- 
lieving and  hoping  all  things  :  —  she  knew  right 
well  what  scandals  and  jealousies  lurk  under  she 
smooth  surface  of  the  society  in  which  she  had 
borne  so  prominent  a  part ;  she  knew  that  there 
were  women  alive  who  would  have  given  half  their 
diamonds  to  have  her  at  their  mercy,  and  torment 
her  at  their  will.  Was  it  likely  that  such  would 
let  even  a  slander  sleep  ?  Let  the  Rosier e  of  last 
season  lay  this  reflection  to  her  heart,  to  temper  the 
immoderation  of  triumph  —  "  For  every  one  of  my 
victories,  I  have  made  one  mortal  enemy."  Not 
only  while  in  supremacy  is  the  potentate  obnox- 
ious to  conspiracies ;  the  dagger  is  most  to  be 
dreaded  when  the  dignity  is  laid  down.  All  de- 
throned and  abdicating  Dictators  have  not  the 
luck  of  Sylla. 

Silently  and  unreservedly  to  accept  such  a 
sacrifice,  while  the  offerer  was  resolved  not 
to  count  the  cost,  transcended  even  the  cyni- 
cism  of  Royston   Keene.      He   grasped  her  arm 

21  p 


242  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

as  though  to  arrest  her  attention,  and  almost  in 
voluntarily  broke  from  his  lips  words  of  solemn 
warning. 

^'  Let  me  go  on  my  way  alone,  while  there 
is  time.  It  is  hard  to  touch  pitch  and  keep 
nndefiled.  Child,  you  are  too  pure  to  estimate 
your  danger.  If  you  remained  as  innocent  as 
one  of  God's  angels,  the  world  would  still  con- 
demn you." 

Her  slender  fingers  twined  themselves  round  his 
wrist,  so  tenderly  !  —  and  she  bent  down  her  soft 
cheek  till  its  blush  was  hidden  on  his  hand.  Then 
she  looked  up  in  his  face  with  a  bright  trustful 
smile. 

"  Great  happiness  cannot  be  bought  without  a 
price.  I  fear  no  reproach  so  much  as  that  of  my 
own  conscience.  Do  not  think  I  delude  myself  as 
to  the  risk  I  am  incurring.  But  if  I  am  innocent, 
I  shall  never  hear  or  heed  what  the  world  may 
say  ;  if  I  am  guilty  —  I  have  no  right  to  complain 
of  its  scorn." 

Hardened  imbeliever  as  he  was,  Koyston  could 
have  bowed  himself  there,  and  worshipped  at  her 
feet.  But  he  would  not  confess  his  admiration  ; 
still  less,  betray  his  triumph.  He  raised  the  little 
white  hand  that  was  free,  gently  to  his  lips.  Not 
with  more  reverent  courtesy  could  he  have  done 
homage  to  an  Anointed  Queen. 

"  I  wish  I  were  worthier  of  you,"  he  murmured  ; 
and  no  more  was  said  then. 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  243 

As  they  walked  slowly  homewards,  the  sullen 
clouds  broke  away  from  the  face  of  the  sun  :  but  a 
weather-wise  observer  could  have  told  that  the 
truce  was  only  treacherous.  The  tempest  bided 
its  time. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

IT  is  not  pleasant  to  stand  by  and  assist  at  each 
step  of  an  incantation  that  draws  down  a  star 
from  heaven,  or  darkens  tlie  face  of  the  moon. 
Let  us  be  content  to  accept  the  result,  when  it  is 
forced  upon  us,  without  inquiring  too  minutely 
into  the  process.  Not  with  impunity  can  even 
the  adepts  gain  and  keep  the  secrets  of  their  evil 
Abracadabra.  The  beard  of  Merlin  is  gray  before 
its  time ;  premature  wrinkles  furrow  the  brow  of 
Canidia ;  though  the  terror  of  his  stony  eyes  may 
keep  the  fiends  at  bay,  the  death-sleep  of  Michael 
Scott  is  not  untroubled ;  the  pillars  of  Melrose 
shake  ever  and  anon,  as  though  an  earthquake 
passed  by,  and  the  monks  cross  themselves  in  fear 
and  pity ;  for  they  know  that  the  awful  wizard  is 
turning  restlessly  in  his  grave. 

As  we  are  not  writing  a  three-volume  novel,  we 
have  a  right,  perhaps,  not  to  linger  over  this  part 
of  our  story.  For  any  one  who  likes  to  indulge  a 
somewhat  morbid  taste,  or  who  happens  to  be  keen 
about  physiology,  there  is  daily  food  sufficient  in 
those  ingenious  romances  (T  Outre-mer.  It  is 
hardly  worth  while  speculating  how  far  Cecil  de- 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  245 

hided  herself,  when  she  thought  that  she  was  safe 
ill  trusting  to  her  own  strength  of  principle  and  to 
the  generosity  of  Royston  Keene ;  all  this  seems 
to  me  not  to  aifect  the  main  question  materially. 
Does  it  help  us  —  after  we  have  yielded  to  tempta- 
tion—  that  our  resolves,  when  it  first  assailed  us, 
should  have  been  prudent  and  sincere ;  if  such  a 
plan  cannot  avert  the  consequence  or  extenuate 
the  guilt  ?  The  grim  old  proverb  tells  us  how  a 
certain  curiously  tessellated  pavement  is  laid  down. 
Millions  of  feet  have  trodden  those  stones  for  sixty 
ages ;  yet  they  may  well  last  till  the  day  of  judg- 
ment :  they  are  so  constantly  and  unsparingly  re- 
newed. It  is  more  than  rashness,  for  any  mortal 
to  say  to  the  strong,  treacherous  ocean,  "  Thus 
far  shalt  thou  go,  and  no  further ;  "  it  is  trenching 
on  the  privilege  of  omnipotence.  The  dykes  may 
be  wisely  planned  and  skilfully  built;  but  one 
night  a  wilder  wind  arises  than  any  that  they  have 
withstood ;  the  legions  of  the  besieging  army  arc 
mustering  to  storm.  At  one  spot  in  the  sea-wall, 
where  patient  miners  have  long  been  working  un- 
seen, a  narrow  breach  is  made,  widening  every 
instant ;  it  is  too  late  now  to  fly ;  the  wolfish 
waves  are  within  the  intrenchments,  mad  for  sack 
and  pillage.  On  the  morrow,  where  trim  gardens 
bloomed,  and  stately  palaces  shone,  there  is  noth- 
ing but  a  waste  of  waters  strewn  with  wrecks  and 
blue,  swollen  corpses.  The  Zuyder  Zee  rolls  ten 
fathom  deep  over  the  ruins  of  drowned  Stavoren. 

21* 


246  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

So  we  will  not  enter  minutely  into  the  details 
of  poor  Cecil's  demoralization  —  gradual,  but  fear- 
fully rapid.  It  was  not  by  words  that  she  was 
corrupted ;  for  Royston  was  still  as  careful  as  ever 
to  abstain  from  uttering  one  cynicism  in  her  pres- 
ence ;  but  none  the  less  was  it  true,  that  daily  and 
hourly  some  fresh  scruple  was  swept  away,  some 
holy  principle  withered  and  died.  The  reckless- 
ness which  ever  carried  him  on  straight  to  the 
attainment  of  a  purpose,  or  the  indulgence  of  a 
fancy,  trampling  down  the  barriers  that  divide 
good  from  evil,  seemed  to  communicate  itself  to 
Cecil  contagiously.  She  seldom  ventured  on  re- 
flection, now  —  still  less  to  self-examination  ;  but 
she  could  not  help  being  herself  sensible  of  the 
change ;  thoughts  that  she  would  have  shrunk 
back  from  in  horror,  not  so  long  ago,  (if  she  could 
have  comprehended  them  fully,)  had  ceased  now 
to  startle  or  repel  her  as  she  looked  them  in  the 
face.  Do  not  suppose,  for  an  instant,  that  there 
was  a  corresponding  alteration  in  her  outward 
demeanor,  or  that  it  displayed  any.  Melodrama, 
wildness,  or  eccentricity,  may  be  very  successful 
at  a  trans-pontine  theatre,  but  it  is  unpardonably 
out  of  place  in  our  salons.  The  Tresilyan  under- 
stood the  duties  of  her  social,  if  not  of  her  moral 
position,  (so  long  as  the  first  was  not  forfeited,) 
as  well  as  the  strictest  duenna  alive ;  though  she 
might  choose  to  defy  the  world's  censure,  she 
never  dreamt  of  giving  an  opening  to  its  ridicule  ; 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  247 

she  was  less  capable  of  a  gaucherie  than  of  a 
crime.  In  her  bearmg  towards  others,  she  was 
just  the  same  as  ever ;  if  anything,  rather  more 
brilliant  and  fascinating,  and,  if  crossed  or  inter- 
fered with,  perhaps  a  shade  more  haughtily  inde- 
pendent. 

Only  when  alone  with  Royston  did  she  betray 
herself.  It  was  sad  to  see  how  completely  the 
stronger  and  worse  nature  had  absorbed  the 
weaker  and  better  one,  till  all  power  of  yolition 
and  free  agency  yanished,  and  even  indiyiduality 
was  lost.  She  was  not  sentimental  nor  demon- 
strative in  his  presence,  (on  the  contrary,  at  such 
times,  that  loveliest  face  was  very  apt  to  put  on 
the  delicious  mine  miitine,  which  made  it  perfectly 
irresistible,)  but  the  idea  seemed  never  to  enter 
her  mind  that  it  would  be  possible  to  resist  or 
controvert  any  seriously  expressed  wish  of  her  — 
lover.  There  —  the  word  is  written  ;  and,  woe  is 
me  !  that  I  dare  not  erase  it :  it  must  have  come 
sooner  or  later,  and  it  is  as  well  to  have  got  it 
over. 

According  to  all  rules  for  such  cases  laid  down 
and  provided,  Cecil's  life  ought  to  have  been  spent 
in  alternations  between  feverish  excitement  and 
poignant  remorse.  But,  the  truth  must  be  told, 
she  was  unaccountably  happy.  The  simple  fact 
was,  that  she  had  no  time  to  be  otherwise.  Even 
when  entirely  alone,  her  conscience  could  find  no 
opportunity  of  asserting  itself.     Her  thoughts  were 


248  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

amply  occupied  with  recalling  every  word  that 
Eoyston  had  said,  and  with  anticipating  what  he 
would  say  at  their  next  meeting.  It  is  idle  to 
suppose  that  remorse  cannot  be  kept  at  arm's 
length,  for  a  certain  time  ;  but  the  debt,  recklessly 
incurred,  must  generally  be  paid  to  the  uttermost 
farthing.  Life,  if  sufficiently  prolonged,  will 
always  aiford  leisure  for  reflection  and  retro- 
spect; and,  at  such  seasons,  we  appreciate  in  full 
force  the  tortures  of  "  solitary  confinement."  The 
criminal  may  go  on  pilgrimage  to  a  hundred 
shrines,  and  never  light  on  the  purification  that 
will  scare  the  Erinnyes. 

In  this  instance,  the  victor  certainly  did  not 
abuse  his  advantage,  and  was  anything  but  exact- 
ing in  his  requirements.  It  was  strange  how  his 
whole  manner  and  nature  altered  when  alone  with 
his  beautiful  captive.  The  more  evident  became 
her  subjugation,  the  more  he  seemed  anxious  to 
treat  her  with  a  delicate  deference.  They  talked, 
as  a  rule,  on  any  subject  rather  than  their  own 
feelings ;  and  he  spoke  on  all  such  indifferent 
topics  honestly,  if  not  wisely.  For  the  rest  of  the 
world,  his  sarcasm  and  irony  was  ready  as  ever ; 
he  kept  all  his  sincerity  and  confidence  for  Cecil 
Tresilyan.  This  is  the  secret  of  the  influence 
exercised  by  many  men,  at  whose  successes  we 
all  have  marvelled.  Sweet  as  well  as  disenchant- 
ing experiences  are  sometimes  gained  behind  the 
scenes  ;   none   but   those  who  have   tried   it  can 


SWORD     AND     GOWX.  249 

appreciate  the  delight  of  finding  in  a  manner, 
that  the  iininitiate  call  cold  and  repellent,  an  ever- 
ready,  loving  caress.  But  in  Royston's  case  there 
was  no  acting ;  it  was  only  that  he  allowed  Cecil 
to  see  one  phase  of  his  character  that  was  seldom 
displayed.  The  subordinates  in  the  drama  be- 
trayed much  more  outward  concern  and  disqui- 
etude than  the  principals.  When  Fanny  Molyneux 
found  that  Royston  did  not  intend  to  evacuate  his 
position,  she  tried  the  effect  of  a  vigorous  remon- 
strance on  her  friend.  The  latter  heard  her  pa- 
tiently, but  quite  impassively ;  declining  to  admit 
any  probability  of  danger,  or  necessity  to  caution. 
La  mig7ionne  was  not  convinced ;  but  she  yielded. 
She  wound  her  arm  round  Cecil's  waist,  as  they 
sat  and  whispered,  nestling  close  to  her  side,  — 
''  Dearest,  remember  this  ;  if  anything  should  hap- 
pen, I  shall  always  think  that  some  blame  belongs 
to  me,  and  I  will  never  give  you  up  —  never." 

The  Tresilyan  bent  her  beautiful  swan-neck,  as 
though  she  were  caressing  a  dove  nestling  in  her 
bosom  ;  and  pressed  her  lips  on  her  companion's 
cheek,  long  and  tenderly. 

"  I  could  not  do  ^/m^,"  she  said,  "  if  I  were 
guilty." 

Neither  had  Harry  refrained  from  lifting  up  his 
testimony  against  what  he  saw  and  suspected. 
The  Major  would  take  more  from  him  than  from 
any  man  alive  ;  he  was  not  at  all  incensed  at  the 
interference.  , 


250  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

"  My  dear  Hal,"  he  said,  "  don't  make  an  old 
woman  of  yourself  by  giving  credit  to  scandal,  or 
inventing  it  for  yourself.  If  you  choose  to  be  wor- 
ried before  your  time,  I  can't  help  it;  but  it  is 
more  than  unnecessary.  Una  can  take  care  of 
herself,  perfectly  well,  without  your  playing  the 
lion.  Besides  —  what  is  the  brother  there  for? 
You  know,  there  are  some  subjects  I  never  talk 
about  to  you  ;  and  you  don't  deserve  that  I  should 
be  communicative  now.  But  listen,  —  you  shall 
not  think  of  Cecil  worse  than  she  is.  Up  to  this 
time,  I  swear,  even  her  lips  are  pure  from  me. 
Now  —  I  hope  you  are  satisfied ;  you  have  made 
me  break  my  rule,  for  once ;  drop  the  subject,  in 
the  devil's  name." 

Though  fully  aware  of  his  friend's  unscrupulous 
character,  Harry  was  satisfied  that  nothing  very 
wrong  had  occurred  so  far.     Royston  never  lied. 

"  I  'm  glad  that  you  can  say  so  much,"  he  re- 
plied ;  "  the  worst  of  it  is,  people  will  talk.  I 
wonder  that  obnoxious  parson  has  not  made  him- 
self more  disagreeable  already.  I  did  n't  go  to 
church  last  Sunday  afternoon,  because  I  felt  a  con- 
viction that  he  was  going  to  be  personal  in  his 
sermon." 

The  Major  laughed  his  hard,  unpleasant  laugh. 
"  Don't  let  that  idea  disturb  your  devotions  another 
time.  He  is  not  likely  to  bite  or  even  to  bark  very 
loud  :  he  don't  get  my  muzzle  off  in  a  hurry." 

Indeed,  it  was  profoundly  true  that  since  the 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  251 

disclosure  the  Chaplain's  reticence  had  become 
remarkable.  When  his  own  wife  questioned  him 
on  the  subject,  (very  naturally,)  he  checked  her 
with  some  asperity,  and  read  her  a  lecture  on  fem- 
inine curiosity  that  moved  the  poor  woman,  even 
to  weeping.  Mrs.  Dan  vers  was  greatly  surprised 
and  disconcerted  by  the  decision  with  which  Mr. 
Fullarton  rejected  her  suggestion,  that  he  should 
aid  and  abet  in  thwarting  Keene's  supposed  de- 
signs. "  He  had  thought  it  right,"  he  said,  "  to 
make  Miss  Tresilyan  and  others  aware  of  the  real 
state  of  the  case,  but  he  did  not  conceive  that  fur- 
ther interference  lay  within  the  sphere  of  his 
duty."  It  was  odd  how  that  same  once  arbitrarily 
elastic  sphere  had  contracted  since  the  prophet  met 
the  lion  in  the  pathway !  Dick  Tresilyan  —  the 
only  other  person  much  interested  in  the  progress 
of  affairs  — did  not  seem  to  trouble  himself  much 
about  them.  He  was  perpetually  absent  on  shoot- 
ing expeditions,  but  when  at  home  it  was  observed 
that  he  drank  harder  than  ever,  getting  sulky 
sometimes  without  apparent  reasons,  and  disagree- 
ably quarrelsome. 

Eoyston  had  only  stated  the  simple  fact  when  he 
said  that  Cecil  Avas  free  from  any  stain  of  actual 
guilt  or  dishonor.  Whether  the  credit  of  having 
borne  her  harmless  was  most  due  to  her  own  pru- 
dence and  remains  of  principle,  or  to  her  tempter's 
self-restraint,,  we  will  not,  if  you  please,  inquire. 
It  is  as  well  to  be  charitable  now  and  then.     Her 


252  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

escape  was  little  less  than  miraculous,  considering 
how  often  she  had  trusted  herself  unreservedly  to 
the  mercy  of  one  who  was  wont  to  be  as  unsparing 
in  his  love  as  in  his  anger.  Let  not  this  immunity 
be  made  an  excuse  for  credulous  confidence,  or  in- 
duce others  to  emulate  her  rashness.  The  Millen- 
nium will  not  come  in  our  time,  I  fancy,  and  till  it 
arrives  neither  child  nor  maiden  may  safely  lay 
their  hand  on  the  cockatrice's  den.  The  ballad 
tells  us  that  Lady  Janet  was  happy  at  last ;  but 
she  paid  dearly  through  months  of  sorrow  and 
shame  for  those  three  red-roses  plucked  in  the 
Effin  Bower.  The  precise  cause  of  Keene's  for- 
bearance it  would  be  very  difficult  to  explain: 
more  than  one  feeling  probably  had  to  do  with  it. 

If  memory  has  any  pleasures  worth  speaking  of, 
(which  many  grave  and  learned  doctors  take  leave 
to  doubt,)  certainly  amongst  the  purest  is  the  rec- 
ollection of  having  once  been  endowed  with  the 
whole  love  of  a  rare  and  beautiful  being  which  we 
did  not  abuse  or  betray.  This  is  the  only  sort  of 
lost  riches  on  which  we  can  look  back  with  comfort 
out  of  the  depths  of  present  and  pressing  poverty  ; 
the  pearl  is  so  very  precious  that  it  confers  on  its 
possessor  a  certain  dignity  which  does  not  entirely 
pass  away,  even  when  the  jewel  has  slipped  from 
his  grasp,  following  the  ring  of  Polycrates.  Alas  ! 
alas !  less  generous  than  the  blue  ocean  are  the 
sullen  waters  of  the  deep.  Only  on  these  grounds 
can  that  wonderful  self-possession  more  mortuum 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  253 

be  accounted  for  wliicli  enables  men,  seemingly  ill- 
fitted  for  the  situation,  to  confront  the  world  in  all 
its  phases  with  so  grand  a  calmness.  It  is  refresh- 
ing to  see  how  even  coquetry  recoils  from  that 
armor  of  proof,  and  to  fancy  how  the  dead  beauty 
might  triumph  over  the  defeat  of  her  living  rivals, 
laughing  the  seductions  of  their  loveliness  to  scorn. 
Even  in  crises  of  grave  difficulty,  where  sterner 
assailants  are  to  be  encountered  than  Helen's  mag- 
ical smile  or  Florence's  magnetic  eyes,  the  invis- 
ible presence  seems  to  inspire  her  lover  with  super- 
natural valiance.  Remember  the  story  of  Aslaya's 
knight ;  when  once  through  the  cloud  of  battle- 
dust  gleamed  the  golden  tresses,  horse  and  man 
went  down  before  him. 

Royston  was  not  half  good  enough  to  appreciate 
all  this ;  yet  some  shadowy  and  undefined  feeling 
allied  to  it  may  have  helped  to  hold  him  back  from 
pushing  his  advantage  to  the  uttermost.  Another 
and  more  selfish  presentiment  worked  probably 
more  powerfully.  There  was  one  ]3hantom  from 
which  the  Cool  Captain  never  could  escape ;  for 
years  it  had  followed  close  on  the  consummation 
of  all  his  crimes,  and  was,  in  truth,  their  best 
avenger :  his  Nemesis  was  satiety.  He  knew  too 
well  how  the  sweetest  flowers  lost  their  color  and 
fragrance  so  soon  as  they  were  plucked  and  fairly 
in  his  grasp,  not  to  shrink  before  the  prospect  of  a 
certain  disenchantment.  This  curse  attaches  to 
many  of  his  kind :  the  instant  the  prize  is  won 

22 


254  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

there  arise  misgivings  as  to  its  yaliie  ;  and  defects 
develop  themselves  hourly  in  what  seemed  fault- 
less perfection  before.  It  is  boy's  play,  to  simulate 
being  blase ;  but  the  reality  makes  mature  man- 
hood disbelieve  anything  sooner  than  inevitable 
retribution.  Very  often  the  thought  forced  itself 
upon  Keene's  mind,  "  If  I  were  to  weary  of  her 
too  ?  "  and  made  him  pause  before  he  urged  Cecil 
to  the  step  that  must  have  linked  him  to  her  fate 
forever.  Under  other  circumstances  his  patience 
might  have  held  out  longer,  but  there  were  num- 
berless difficulties  and  obstacles  in  the  way  of  their 
meeting,  and  the  perpetual  constraint  fretted  Roy- 
ston  sorely.  His  principle  always  had  been  not 
openly  to  violate  conventionalities,  without  gaining 
an  adequate  equivalent :  so  he  was  more  careful 
of  Cecil's  reputation  than  she  was  inclined  to  be, 
and,  amongst  worse  lessons,  taught  her  prudence. 
They  met  very  seldom  alone.  When  Mrs.  Dan  vers 
was  present,  she  made  it  her  business  to  be  as 
much  as  possible  in  the  way  ;  and  her  awkward 
attempts  at  interference  were  sometimes  inexpress- 
ibly provoking. 

On  one  particular  evening  she  had  been  unusu- 
ally pertinacious  and  obtrusive.  The  Major  stood 
it  tolerably  well  up  to  a  certain  point,  but  his 
savage  temper  gradually  got  the  better  of  him; 
his  face  grew  darker  and  darker,  till  it  was  black 
as  midnight,  when  he  rose  to  go,  and  his  lips  were 
rigid   as   steel.     It   was  evident  he  had  come  to 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  255 

some  resolution  that  lie  meant  to  keep.  When  he 
was  wishing  Bessie  "  good  night,"  he  held  her 
hand  imprisoned  for  a  moment  without  pressing  it. 
^'  You  are  so  good  a  theologian,"  he  said,  "  that 
perhaps  you  can  tell  me  where  a  text  comes  from 
that  has  haunted  me  for  the  last  hour.  It  speaks 
of  some  who  '  loosed  the  bands  of  Orion.'  "  His 
manner  and  the  sudden  address  disconcerted  Mrs. 
Danvcrs  so  completely  as  to  incapacitate  her  from 
reply:  she  suffered  "judgment  to  go  by  default," 
and  left  Royston  under  the  impression  that  she 
had  never  read  the  Book  of  Job. 

The  next  day  he  asked  Cecil  to  elope  with  him. 

She  listened  without  betraying  either  terror,  or 
anger,  or  disdain  ;  but  she  raised  her  beautiful 
eyes  to  his  with  a  sad,  searching  inquiry,  before 
which  many  men  would  have  quailed.  "  Have 
you  counted  the  cost  to  yourself,  and  to  me  ?  " 

"  I  have  done  both,"  replied  Keene,  gravely. 
"  I  cannot  say  that  you  will  never  repent  it,  but  I 
know  that  I  shall  never  regret  it." 

There  were  no  promises  or  vows  exchanged  ;  but 
a  silence  for  two  long  minutes  ;  and  when  these 
were  past,  the  sweet,  pure  lips  had  lost  their  vir- 
ginity. So  with  few  more  words  it  was  finally 
arranged ;  and  the  next  day  Royston  left  Dorado 
to  make  preparations  all  along  the  road  of  their 
intended  flight.  Their  plan  was  to  take  boat  at 
Marseilles  for  the  East,  making  their  first  per- 
manent resting-place    one   of  the  islands  of  the 


256  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

Grecian  Archipelago.  Both  were  most  anxious  to 
evade  any  possibility  of  interception,  more  espe- 
cially of  collision  with  Dick  Tresilyan. 

On  that  evening  Cecil  was  alone  in  her  own 
room  (Mrs.  Danvers  had  gone  out  to  a  sort  of 
love-feast  at  the  Fullartons',  where  the  company 
were  to  be  entertained  with  weak  tea  and  strong 
doctrine  a  discretion).  She  had  rejected  the  offer 
of  Fanny's  companionship  on  the  plea,  not  alto- 
gether false,  of  a  tormenting  headache.  La  mig- 
nonne  was  too  innocent  to  suspect  the  reason  that 
made  her  friend  shudder  in  their  parting  embrace, 
half  averting  her  cheek,  though  Cecil's  arms  clung 
round  her  as  though  they  would  never  let  her  go. 
The  saddest  feeling  of  the  many  that  were  busy 
then  in  the  guilty,  troubled  heart,  was  a  conscious- 
ness that  in  a  few  hours  the  gulf  between  them 
would  be  deej)  and  impassable  as  the  chasm  divid- 
ing Abraham  from  Dives. 

Miss  Tresilyan  had  taken  unconsciously  an  at- 
titude in  which  you  saw  her  once  before,  half- 
reclined,  and  gazing  into  the  fire ;  outwardly  still 
remained  the  same  pensive,  languid  grace  ;  but 
very  different  was  the  careless  reverie  that  had 
stolen  over  her  then  from  the  wild  chaos  of  con- 
flicting thoughts  that  involved  her  now.  Her 
whole  being  was  so  bound  up  in  Royston  Keene's, 
that  she  felt  without  him  there  would  be  nothing 
worth  lining  for  ;  neither  had  she  the  faintest  mis- 
giving as  to  the  chances  of  his  inconstancy.    There 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  257 

had  descended  to  her  some  of  the  stability  and 
determination  of  purpose  which  had  made  many 
of  her  race  so  powerful  for  good  or  evil ;  in  the 
pursuit  of  either  they  would  never  admit  a  doubt, 
or  listen  to  a  compromise.  When  Cecil  believed, 
she  believed  implicitly,  and,  not  even  with  her  own 
conscience,  made  conditions  of  surrender.  So  long 
as  his  strong  arm  was  round  her,  she  felt  that  she 
could  defy  shame,  and  even  remorse ;  but  how 
would  it  be  if  that  support  should  fail  ?  He  had 
not  been  away  yet  twenty  hours,  and  already  there  \ 
came  creeping  over  her  a  chilling  sense  of  help-  | 
lessness  and  desolation.  She  knew  her  lover's 
violent  passions  and  haughty  temper,  impatient  of 
the  most  distant  approach  to  insolence  or  even 
contradiction  from  others,  too  well  not  to  be  aware 
that  such  a  man  walked  ever  on  the  frontier- 
ground  between  life  and  death.  Suppose  that  he 
were  taken  from  her  ?  —  her  spirit,  dauntless  as  it 
Avas,  quailed  before  the  ghastly  terrors  of  imagined 
loneliness.  An  evil  voice,  that  had  whispered  per- 
haps in  the  ear  of  more  than  one  of  the  "  bitter, 
bad  Tresilyans,"  seemed  to  murmur,  "  You,  too, 
can  die  :  "  biit  Cecil  was  not  yet  so  lost  as  to  listen 
to  the  suggestion  of  the  subtle  fiend.  She  wasted 
no  regrets  on  the  past,  and  the  wreck  of  all  its 
brilliant  promises  ;  she  was  resolute  to  meet  the 
perils  of  the  future  ;  nevertheless,  her  heart  was 
heavy  with  apprehension.  Remember  the  answer 
that  the  stout  Catholic  made  to  Des  Adrets,  when 

22*  Q 


258  SWORD     AND     GOWN. 

the  savage  baron  taunted  him  with  cowardice  for 
shrinking  twice  from  the  death-leap  on  the  tower, 
"Je  vous  le  donne,  en  dix.^^  So  it  is  not  in  wo- 
manhood—  however  ruined  in  principle  or  reck- 
less of  the  consequences  —  to  venture  deliberately 
without  a  shudder  on  the  fatal  plunge  from  which 
no  fair  fame  has  ever  risen  unshattered  again. 
Even  prejudices  may  not  be  torn  up  by  the  roots 
without  stirring  the  earth  around  them. 

She  might  have  sat  musing  thus  for  about  an 
hou.r ;  so  deep  in  thought  that  she  never  heard  the 
portiere  slowly  drawn  aside  that  divided  the  room 
from  an  antechamber.  The  Tresilyan  had  her 
emotions  under  tolerable  control,  and  at  least  was 
not  given  to  screaming,  but  she  could  hardly  re- 
press the  startled  cry  that  sprang  to  her  lips  when 
she  raised  her  eyes. 

The  reproachful  spectre  that  had  haunted  her 
for  years  —  till  very  lately,  when  a  stronger  influ- 
ence chased  it  away  —  assumed  substance  of  form 
and  feature,  as  the  dark  doorway  framed  the  hag- 
gard, pain-stricken  face  of  Mark  Waring. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

IT  is  not  very  easy  to  confront,  with  decorous 
composure,  the  sudden  apparition  of  the  per- 
son on  earth  that  one  would  have  least  liked  to 
see.  All  things  considered,  Cecil  carried  it  off 
creditably,  and  greeted  her  unexpected  visitor  with 
sufficient  cordiality.  Mark  took  her  offered  hand 
gravely,  without  eagerness,  not  holding  it  an  in- 
stant longer  than  was  necessary.     Then  he  spoke  — 

"  They  told  me  I  should  find  you  alone.  I  was 
so  anxious  to  do  so  as  soon  as  possible,  that  I  ven- 
tured to  break  in  upon  you  even  at  this  unseason- 
able hour.  You  will  guess  that  I  had  powerful 
reasons  ?  " 

The  Tresilyan  threw  back  her  haughty  head,  as 
a  war-horse  might  do  at  the  first  blast  of  the  trum- 
pet :  she  scented  battle  in  the  wind. 

"  Will  you  be  good  enough  to  explain  yourself?  " 
she  said,  as  she  took  her  own  seat  again,  and  mo- 
tioned him  into  another.  "  I  am  sure  you  would 
not  trifle  with  me,  or  vex  me  unnecessarily." 

Waring  did  not  avail  himself  of  the  chair  indi- 
cated, but  crossed  his  arms  over  the  back  of  it,  and 
stood  so,  regarding  her  intently. 


260  SWORD     AND    GOWN. 

"  You  only  do  mo  justice  there,"  he  replied : 
"  I  will  speak  briefly,  and  plainly,  too.  I  came 
here  from  Nice  to  ask  you  how  much  truth  there 
is  in  the  reports  that  couple  your  name  with  Major 
Keene's." 

No  one  likes  to  give  the  death-blow  to  the  loyalty 
of  a  faithful  adherent,  be  he  ever  so  humble  ;  and 
Cecil  was  bitterly  pained  that  she  could  not  speak 
truly,  and  satisfy  him.  Her  face  sank  lower  and 
lower,  till  it  was  buried  in  her  hands.  Nothing- 
more  was  needed  to  convince  Waring  that  his 
worst  fears  were  realized.  For  a  moment  or  two 
he  felt  sick  and  faint.  No  wonder  ;  he  had  given 
up  hope  long  ago,  but  not  trust  and  faith ;  now, 
these  were  blasted  utterly.  In  any  religion,  whether 
true  or  false,  the  fanatic  is  happier,  if  not  wiser, 
than  the  infidel ;  if  you  cannot  replace  it  with  a 
better,  it  is  cruel  to  shake  the  foundation  of  the 
simplest  creed.  Mark's  voice  —  hollow,  and  hoarse, 
and  changed  —  could  not  but  betray  his  agony. 

"  God  help  us  both  !  Has  it  come  to  this  —  that 
you  have  no  words  to  answer  me,  when  I  dare  to 
hint  at  your  dishonor  ?  " 

She  looked  up  quickly,  flushing  to  her  white 
brow,  rose-red  with  anger. 

"  I  will  not  endure  this,  even  from  you.  Un- 
derstand at  once  —  I  deny  your  right  to  question 
me."  The  clear  blue  eyes  met  the  violet  ones  with 
a  steady  judicial  calmness,  bravely  undazzled  by 
their  ominous  lightning. 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  261 

"Listen  to  me  quietly  —  two  minutes  longer,'* 
he  said,  "  and  then  resent  my  presumption  as  much 
as  you  will.  Three  years  ago  it  pleased  you  to 
make  me  the  subject  of  an  experiment.  How  far 
you  acted  heedlessly,  and  in  ignorance  of  the  con- 
sequences, I  have  never  stopped  to  inquire  —  it 
would  be  wasting  time  ;  the  sophistries  of  coquetry 
are  too  subtle  for  me.  I  only  know  what  the  re- 
sult has  been.  Before  I  met  you  I  could  have 
offered  to  any  woman,  who  thought  it  worth  her 
acceptance,  a  healthy,  honest  love  ;  now  —  even  if 
I  could  conqu.er  my  present  infatuation  —  I  could 
only  offer  a  feeling  something  warmer  than  friend- 
ship :  to  promise  more  would  be  base  treachery. 
Do  you  think  I  would  stand  by  God's  altar  with  a 
worse  lie  than  Ananias' s  on  my  lips  ?  Is  it  noth- 
ing that,  to  gratify  your  vanity  or  your  whims,  you 
should  have  condemned  a  man,  whose  blood  is  not 
frozen  yet,  to  something  worse  than  widowhood  for 
life  ?  My  religion  may  be  a  false  and  vain  idolatry, 
but  it  is  all  I  have  to  trust  to.  I  will  not  stand 
patiently  by  and  see  the  image  that  I  have  bowed 
down  to  worship  pilloried  for  the  world  to  scorn. 
Now  do  you  deny  my  right  to  interfere  ?  " 

His  words  had  a  rude  energy,  though  little  elo- 
quence ;  but  they  came  so  evidently  from  the 
depths  of  a  strong,  troubled  heart,  that  they  caused 
a  revulsion  in  Cecil's  feelings  ;  returning  remorse 
bore  down  her  stubborn  pride.  Very  low  and 
plaintive  was  the  whisper  — 


262  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

"  All !  have  mercy  —  have  mercy  ;  you  make 
me  so  unhappy  !  '* 

But  there  came  a  more  piteous  appeal  from  her 
eyes.  In  Mark's  stout  manhood  was  an  element 
of  more  than  womanish  compassion  and  tender- 
ness ;  he  never  could  bear  to  see  even  a  child 
in  tears  ;  —  no  wonder  if  his  anger  vanished  be- 
fore the  contrition  of  the  one  being  whom  he 
loved  far  better  than  life.  He  lost  sight  of  his 
own  wrongs  instantly,  but  not  of  the  object  he 
had  in  view. 

"  Forgive  me  for  speaking  so  roughly  ;  I  ought 
to  have  declined  your  challenge.  I  behaved  bet- 
ter once,  you  remember.  But  be  patient  while  I 
plead  for  the  Bight,  —  though,  if  you  would  but 
listen  to  them,  prudence  and  your  own  conscience 
could  do  that  better  than  I.  When  infatuation 
exists,  it  is  worse  than  useless  to  prove  the  object 
of  it  unworthy  :  so  I  will  not  attempt  to  blacken 
Major  Keene's  character ;  besides,  it  is  not  to  my 
taste  to  attack  men  in  their  absence.  I  fear  there 
are  few  capitals  in  Europe  where  his  name  is  not 
too  well  known.  From  what  I  have  heard,  I  be- 
lieve his  wife  was  most  in  fault  when  they  sepa- 
rated ;  but  the  life  he  has  led  since  deprives  him 
of  all  right  to  complain  of  her,  or  condemn  her. 
Recollect,  you  have  only  heard  one  side.  But  it 
is  not  a  question  of  his  eligibility  as  an  acquaint- 
ance. There  is  the  simple  fact  —  he  is  married  ; 
and  your  name  being  connected  with  his,  involves 


SWORD    AND     GOWN.  263 

disgrace.  You  cannot  have  fallen  yet  so  far  as  to 
be  reckless  about  such  an  imputation  ?  In  my 
turn  I  say,  '  Have  mercy ! '  Do  not  force  me 
liencefortli  to  disbelieve  in  the  purity  of  any  cre- 
ated thing." 

Cecil  could  only  murmur,  "  It  is  too  late  —  too 
late !  "  The  ghastly  look  of  horror  that  swept 
over  Waring's  face  showed  that  his  thoughts  had 
gone  beyond  the  truth.  "  I  mean,"  she  went  on, 
blushing  painfully,  "  that  I  have  promised." 

''  Promised  !  "  Mark  repeated,  in  high  disdain  ; 
"  I  have  lived  too  long  wlien  I  hear  such  devil's 
logic  from  your  lips.  You  know  full  well  there  is 
more  sin  in  keeping  than  in  breaking  such  engage- 
ments. I  will  try  to  save  you,  in  spite  of  your- 
self. Listen.  I  do  not  threaten  ;  I  know  you  well 
enough  to  be  certain  that  such  an  argument  would 
be  the  strongest  temptation  to  you  to  persevere  in 
taking  your  own  course.  I  simply  tell  you  what  I 
will  do.  I  shall  speak  to  your  brother  first ;  if  he 
cannot  understand  his  duty,  or  shrinks  from  it, 
I  will  carry  out  what  I  believe  to  be  mine.  I 
utterly  disapprove  of  and  despise  the  practice  of 
duelling  ;  but,  at  any  risk,  I  icill  stand  between 
you  and  Major  Keene.  He  shall  not  gain  posses- 
sion of  you  while  I  am  alive.  Wlien  I  am  dead  — 
if  you  touch  his  hand  you  shall  know  that  my 
blood  is  upon  it,  and  the  guilt  shall  be  on  your 
own  head.  I  believe  that,  in  keeping  you  apart, 
I  should  act  kindly  towards  both.     I  do  him  this 


264  SWORD   AND   GOWN. 

justice  —  it  would  make  him  miserable  to  see  you 
pining  away.  There  are  limits  to  human  endur- 
ance, and  you  are  too  proud  to  bear  dishonor." 

Cecil  felt  that  every  word  he  had  spoken  was 
good  and  true,  and  that  he  would  not  waver  in 
his  purpose  for  an  instant.  She  remembered  how, 
when  they  were  returning  together,  four  days  ago, 
the  sidelong  glance  of  an  orthodox  English  matron 
had  lighted  on  her  in  a  spiteful  triumph  ;  and  how, 
though  neither  of  them  alluded  to  it  afterwards, 
the  dark-red  flush  of  anger  had  mounted  to  Roy- 
ston's  forehead.  She  had  ceased  to  care  for  her- 
self; but  could  she  not  save  /u"w,  while  yet  there 
was  time  ?  And  more  —  had  she  not  wrought 
wrong  enough  to  Mark  Waring  without  having  his 
murder  on  her  soul  ?  —  for  she  never  doubted  as 
to  the  result  if  those  two  should  meet  as  foes. 

They  talk  of  hair  that  has  grown  gray  in  the 
briefest  space  of  mental  anguish.  It  is  all  a  delu- 
sion and  an  old  Avife's  fable  ;  when  Cecil  rose  the 
next  morning  there  was  not  a  silver  line  in  her 
tresses.  Outward  signs  of  the  mortal  struggle, 
while  it  lasted,  there  were  none,  for  her  clasped 
hands  veiled  her  face  jealously ;  when  she  raised 
it  her  cheek  was  paler  than  death,  and  wet  with 
an  awful  dew ;  and  when  she  spoke  her  voice  re- 
tained not  one  cadence  of  its  wonted  melody. 

^'  You  have  prevailed,  as  the  Right  always  ought 
to  prevail.     Now,  tell  me  what  to  do." 

Mark  Waring  would  have  drained  his  heart's 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  265 

blood,  drop  by  drop,  to  have  lightened  one  throb 
of  her  agony  ;  but  he  never  thought  of  flhiching 
from  his  purpose. 

''  There  are  perils  where  the  only  safety  lies  in 
flight.  You  must  leave  this  before  Major  Keene 
returns  ;  and  he  returns  to-morrow." 

Perhaps  I  have  failed  in  making  you  understand 
one  hereditary  peculiarity  of  the  Tresilyans.  When 
tlieir  hand  was  fairly  laid  on  the  plough,  they  were 
incapable  of  looking  back.  Had  Mark  come  ten 
hours  later,  when  Cecil's  purpose  was  absolutely 
fixed,  all  his  arguments  would  have  been  futile. 
As  it  was,  once  having  decided  finally  on  the  line 
she  was  to  take,  it  never  occurred  to  her  to  make 
further  objections. 

''  Yes,  I  will  go,"  she  said  ;  ''  but  I  must  write 
to  him." 

"  I  think  you  ought  to  do  so,"  answered  War- 
ing ;  "  and  if  you  will  give  me  the  letter  I  will 
deliver  it  myself." 

Every  vestige  of  the  returning  color  faded  from 
Cecil's  cheek. 

"  You  do  not  know  him ;  I  dare  not  trust 
you." 

He  misinterpreted  the  cause  of  her  terror. 

"  I  promise  you  that,  however  angry  Major 
Keene  may  be,  I  will  bear  it  patiently,  and  never 
dream  of  resenting  it.  He  is  safe  from  me 
now." 

She  smiled  very  sadly,  yet  not  without  a  dreary 

2.3 


266  SWORD     AND     GOWN. 

pride  :  she  could  have  seen  Royston  pitted  against 
any  mortal  antagonist,  and  never  would  have 
feared  for  him. 

"  You  scarcely  understand  me  :  I  was  not  anx- 
ious for  his  safety,  but  for  yours." 

Mark  was  too  brave  and  single-hearted  to  sus- 
pect a  taunt,  even  had  such  been  intended. 

"  Then  there  is  nothing  more  to  be  settled,"  he 
said,  quietly,  "  but  the  time  and  manner  of  your 
departure.  I  will  leave  you  now  ;  I  shall  see  you 
before  you  go." 

Cecil  Tresilyan  rose  and  laid  her  hand  on  his 
arm  —  her  beautiful  face  fixed  in  its  full  resolve, 
like  that  of  one  of  the  fair  Norse  Yala's  from 
whose  rigid  lips  flowed  the  bode  of  defeat  or 
victory  when  the  Yikings  went  forth  to  the  Feast 
of  the  Ravens. 

"  I  am  not  angry  with  one  word  you  have  said 
to-night ;  you  have  only  expressed  what  my  own 
cowardly  conscience  ought  to  have  uttered.  Nev- 
ertheless, to-morrow  sees  our  last  meeting.  All 
your  account  against  me  is  fairly  balanced  now.  I 
do  not  know  what  I  may  have  to  suffer  ;  but 
I  do  know  that  I  ivill  be  alone  till  I  die.  Per- 
haps some  day  I  may  thank  you  in  my  thoughts 
for  what  you  have  done  ;   I  cannot  do  so  now." 

With  a  heavy  heart  Waring  owned  to  himself 
that  her  words  were  bitterly  true.  In  curing  such 
diseases  the  physician  must  work  without  hope  of 
reward  or  fee  ;  it  will  be  long  before  the  patient 


SWORD     AND     GOWN.  267 

can  toucli  witliout  a  shudder  the  hand  that  inflicted 
the  saving  cautery. 

Her  tone  changed,  and  she  went  on  murmuring, 
low  and  j^hiintively,  as  if  in  soliloquy,  and  uncon- 
scious of  another's  presence. 

'^  I  could  not  help  loving  him,  though  I  knew  it 
was  sin  ;  if  there  is  shame  in  confessing  it,  I  can- 
not feel  it  yet.  I  Avish  I  had  told  him  once  how 
dearly  I  loved  him  ;  I  shall  never  be  able  to  whisper 
it  to  him  now,  and  I  dare  not  write  it.  Xo,  he 
will  not  forget  me  as  he  has  forgotten  others ;  but 
he  will  hate  me,  and  call  me  false  and  fickle  and 
cold.  Cold  —  if  he  could  only  read  my  heart ! 
I  never  read  it  myself  till  now,  when  we  must  be 
parted  forever." 

Is  it  pleasant,  think  you,  to  listen  to  such  words 
as  these,  uttered  by  the  woman  that  you  have  wor- 
shipped, even  if  it  be  hopelessly,  for  years  ?  Men 
have  gone  mad  under  lighter  tortures  than  those 
that  Mark  Waring  was  then  forced  to  endure. 
But  he  knew  that  it  was  the  extremity  of  her  an- 
guish that  had  hardened  for  a  season  Cecil's  gentle, 
generous  nature,  and  made  her  heedless  of  the 
pain  she  inflicted.  So  he  answered  in  a  slow, 
steady  voice,  such  as  we  employ  when  trying  to 
calm  the  ravings  of  a  fever-fit :  — 

"  Hush !  you  speak  wildly.  My  presence  here 
does  you  no  good.  You  may  think  of  me  as  hardly 
as  you  will ;  perhaps  time  will  soften  your  judg- 
ment ;  if  not,  I  shall  still  not  repent  to-night's  work. 


268  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

I  will  come  for  your  letter  at  the  moment  of  j^our 
departure.  Good  night ;  I  pray  that  God  may 
help  you  now,  and  guard  you  always."  He  raised 
her  hand,  and  just  touched  it  with  his  lips,  with 
the  same  grave  courtesy  that  had  marked  his  man. 
ner  when  they  parted  last,  three  years  ago  ;  and  in 
another  second  Cecil  was  alone  again. 

It  did  not  take  long  to  recover  from  her  bewil- 
derment ;  and  when  Mrs.  Danvers  returned,  she 
was  perfectly  collected  and  calm.  It  is  not  worth 
while  recording  Bessie's  noisy  expressions  of  aston- 
ishment and  delight,  nor  describing  Dick  Tresil- 
yan's  way  of  receiving  notice  of  the  sudden  change 
in  their  plans.  His  stolid  composure  was  not 
greatly  disturbed  thereby;  he  muttered,  under  his 
breath,  some  sulky  anathemas  on  "  women  who 
never  knew  their  own  minds ; "  but  this  was  only 
because  he  considered  a  growl  to  be  the  form  of 
protest  suitable  to  the  circumstances,  and  due  to 
his  masculine  dignity.  On  the  whole,  he  was 
rather  glad  to  go.  It  had  become  evident,  even 
to  his  dull  comprehension,  that  great  mischief  was 
brewing  somewhere  ;  and  for  days  past  he  had 
been  in  a  state  of  hazy  apprehension,  as  he  ex- 
pressed it,  "  not  seeing  his  way  out  of  it  at  all." 
So  he  set  about  his  part  of  the  preparations  for 
their  exodus  with  a  right  good  will.  Neither  will 
we  give  the  details  of  Cecil's  parting  with  la  mig-- 
nonne.  The  latter  was  so  rejoiced  at  the  idea  of 
her  friend's  being  out  of  harm's  way,  that  she  did 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  269 

not  question  her  much  as  to  the  reasons  for  such 
an  abrupt  departure  :  it  was  not  till  afterwards 
that  she  learnt  that  it  had  been  brought  about  by 
the  influence  of  Waring.  It  is  unnecessary  to 
mention  that  the  adieus  were  not  accomplished 
without  a  certain  amount  of  tears  ;  but  they  were 
all  shed  by  Fanny  Molyneux.  Cecil  dared  not 
yet  trust  herself  to  weep.  She  took  a  far  more 
formal  farewell  of  Mr.  Fullarton,  and  the  Chap- 
lain did  not  even  venture  on  a  parting  benedic- 
tion. 

The  heavy  travelling  chariot,  with  its  hundred 
cunning  contrivances,  is  packed  at  last ;  and  Karl, 
the  accomplished  courier,  wiping  from  his  blonde 
moustache  the  drops  of  the  stirrup-cup,  touches 
his  cap  with  his  accustomed  formula — "  Zi  ces 
dames  zont  bretes  ?  "  Mark  Waring  leans  over 
the  carriage-door  to  say  "  Good  by  :  "  the  hand  lie 
presses  lies  in  his  grasp,  unresponsive  and  unsym- 
pathetic as  a  splinter  from  an  iceberg.  His  sad, 
earnest  look  pleads  in  vain,  for  there  is  no  soften- 
ing or  kindness  in  Cecil's  desolate,  dreamy  eyes. 
The  road  on  which  they  are  to  travel  is  the  same 
for  some  leagues  as  that  along  which  Royston 
Keene  must  return ;  and  she  is  thinking,  divided 
betwixt  hope  and  fear,  if  there  may  not  be  a  possi- 
bility of  their  meeting.  The  wheels  move,  and 
hasty  farewells  arc  waved ;  and  Mark  stands  there 
half  stupefied,  unconscious  of  anything  but  a  sense 
of  lonely  wretchedness.     The  one  solitary  link  that 


270  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

still  binds  liim  to  Cecil  Tresilyan  will  be  severed 
when  the  letter  is  delivered  that  he  holds  in  his 
hand. 

As  the  carriage  swept  round  the  corner  of  the 
terrace,  it  passed  close  to  the  spot  where  Armand 
de  Chateaumesnil  sat,  basking  in  the  sunshine. 
The  invalid  lifted  his  cap  in  courteous  adieu,  but 
his  face  grew  dark  and  his  shaggy  brows  were  knit 
savagely. 

"  On  Vd  triche  done,  apres  toiit^''  he  muttered ; 
"  Sang  dieu !  les  absens  ont  diahlement  tort.'''' 
Sunk  as  she  was  at  that  moment  in  gloomy  medi- 
tations, Cecil  never  forgot  that  the  last  object  on 
which  her  eyes  lighted  in  Dorade  was  the  blasted 
wreck  of  the  crippled  Algerian. 

Molyneux  and  his  wife  stood  silent  till  their 
friends  were  quite  out  of  sight ;  then  Harry 
turned  slowly  round  and  gazed  at  his  mignonne. 
He  knew  that  the  same  thought  was  in  both  their 
minds,  for  her  sweet  face  was  paler  than  his  own. 
(Neither  of  them  guessed  at  the  truth ;  and  they 
saw  in  Mark  Waring  nothing  more  than  an  old 
acquaintance  of  the  Tresilyans.) 

"  Royston  will  be  here  in  four  hours,"  he  said, 
"  and  who  will  tell  him  this  ?     /  dare  not." 

Fanny  feigned  a  carelessness  that  she  was  far 
from  feeling. 

"  I  don't  know  how  that  is  to  be  managed ;  but 
I  believe  it  is  all  for  the  best.  He  can't  kill  either 
of  us  ;  that  is  some  comfort." 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  271 

Harry  did  not  smile  ;  liis  countenance  wore  an 
expression  of  grave  anxiety,  sucli  as  had  seldom 
appeared  there. 

"  No,  he  will  not  hurt  us  ;  but  I  fear  he  will 
have  some  one's  blood  before  all  is  done." 


C  PI  AFTER    XXI. 

IT  was  past  nightfall  when  Major  Kccne  returned 
to  Doracle.  As  he  drove  past  the  hotel  where 
the  Tresilyans  lodged,  he  looked  up  at  the  win- 
dows of  their  apartments,  and  was  somewhat  sur- 
prised to  see  no  light  there ;  but  no  suspicion  of 
the  truth  crossed  his  mind.  He  had  made  all 
preparations  for  the  intended  flight  with  his  ha- 
bitual skill  and  foresight.  The  Levantine  steamer 
left  Marseilles  early  on  the  third  morning  from 
this ;  and  relays  were  so  ordered  along  the  road 
as  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  being  overtaken, 
and  just  to  hit  the  hour  of  the  vessel's  sailing. 
So  far  everything  seemed  to  promise  favorably 
for  the  accomplishment  of  his  purposes ;  and 
Royston  could  not  have  explained  even  to  him- 
self the  reason  of  his  feeling  so  moody  and  dis- 
contented. He  went  straight  to  his  own  rooms, 
without  looking  in  at  the  Molyneuxs' ;  for  he 
was  heated  and  travel-stained ;  and  under  such 
circumstances  was  wont  to  postpone  the  greeting 
of  friends  to  the  exigencies  of  the  toilet.  This 
was  scarcely  concluded,  when  his  servant  brought 
him  Mark  Waring's  card,  with  a  request  pencilled 
on  it  for  an  immediate  interview. 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  273 

Even  the  Cool  Cai^taiii  started  perceptibly  when  \ 
he  read  the  name ;  he  was  well  acquainted  with 
the  episode  connected  with  it ;  for  Cecil  had  kept 
back  none  of  her  secrets  from  him,  and  this  was 
anions;  the  earliest  confidences.  Then  he  had  felt 
no  inclination  to  sneer ;  but  now  his  lip  began  to 
curl  cynically. 

''  Coramha  !  "  he  muttered  ;  "  the  plot  begins  to 
thicken.  What  brings  the  old  lover  en  scene  ?  I 
hope  he  does  not  mean  to  make  himself  disagree- 
able. I  have  n't  time  to  quarrel  just  now ;  and 
besides,  it  would  worry  Cecil.  \Yell  —  we  '11  find 
out  what  he  wants.  Tell  Mr.  Waring  that  I  am 
disengaged,  and  shall  be  happy  to  see  him." 

The  Major  advanced  to  meet  his  visitor,  with  a 
manner  that  was  perfectly  courteous,  though  it 
retained  a  tinge  of  haughty  surprise. 

"  I  cannot  guess  to  what  I  am  indebted  for  this 
pleasure,"  he  said.  "  Pardon  me,  if  I  ask  you  to 
explain  your  object  as  briefly  as  possible.  I  have 
much  to  do  this  evening,  and  my  time  is  hardly 
my  own." 

AVaring  gazed  fixedly  at  the  speaker  for  a  few 
seconds,  before  he  replied.  Like  most  of  his  pro- 
fession, lie  was  an  acute  physiognomist ;  and  in 
that  ]jrief  space,  he  fathomed  much  of  the  charac- 
ter of  the  man  who  had  rivalled  him  successfully. 
He  confessed  honestly,  to  himself,  that  there  were  / 
grounds,  if  not  excuse,  for  Cecil's  infatuation  ;  but  j 
he  shrank  from  thinking  of  the  danger  which  slie 
had  escaped  so  narrowly. 


274  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

"  Yes,  I  will  be  as  brief  as  possible,"  Mark  an- 
swered, at  length.  "  Neither  of  us  will  be  tempted 
to  prolong  this  interview  unnecessarily.  I  have 
promised  to  deliver  a  letter  to  you ;  and  when  you 
have  read  it,  I  shall  have  but  very  few  words  to 
say." 

A  stronger  proof  than  Keene  had  ever  yet  given 
of  superhuman  control  over  his  emotions  was  the 
fact  that,  neither  by  quivering  of  eyelid,  change  of 
color,  or  motion  of  muscle,  did  he  betray  the  faint- 
est astonishment  or  concern,  as  he  took  the  letter 
from  Waring,  and  recognized  Cecil's  hand  on  the 
cover.  It  was  not  a  long  epistle,  for  it  scarcely 
extended  beyond  two  sides  of  a  note-sheet:  the 
writing  was  hurried,  and  in  places  almost  illegible : 
it  had  entirely  lost  the  firm,  even  character  which 
usually  distinguished  it ;  from  which  a  very  mod- 
erate graphiologist  might  have  drawn  successful 
auguries.  Perhaps  this  was  the  reason  that  Roy- 
ston  read  it  through  twice,  slowly.  As  he  did  so 
his  countenance  altered  fearfully  ;  the  deadly  white 
look  of  dangerous  passion  overspread  it  all ;  and 
his  eyes  began  to  gleam.  Yet  still  he  spoke  calm- 
ly —  "  You  knew  of  this  being  written  ?  " 

"  I  am  happy  to  say  I  was  more  than  passively 
conscious  of  it,"  Mark  replied ;  "  I  did  all  in  my 
power  to  bring  about  the  result  that  you  are  now 
made  aware  of ;  and  I  thank  God  that  I  did  not 
fail." 

While  the  other  was  speaking,  Royston  was  tear- 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  275 

iiig  up  the  paper  he  held  into  the  smallest  slireds, ' 
and  dropping  them  one  by  one.  The  act  might 
have  been  involuntary,  but  seemed  to  have  a  sav-  \ 
age  viciousness  about  it,  as  if  a  living  thing  vrere 
being  tortured  by  those  cruel  fingers.  (The  poor 
letter  !  —  whatever  its  faults  might  have  been,  it 
surely  deserved  a  better  fate  :  it  was  doubtless  not 
a  model  of  composition  ;  but  some  of  the  epis- 
tles which  have  moved  us  most  in  our  time, 
either  for  joy  or  sorrow,  might  not  in  this  respect 
emulate  Montague  or  Chapone.)  Still  he  con- 
trolled himself,  with  a  mighty  effort,  enough  to 
ask,  steadily,  ''  Were  you  weary  of  your  life  to 
have  done  all  this,  and  then  come  here  to  tell  me 
so?" 

Waring  laughed  drearily. 

"  Weary  ?  So  weary,  that  if  it  had  not  been 
for  scruples  you  cannot  understand,  I  would  have 
got  rid  of  it  long  ago.  But  I  need  not  inflict  my 
confidences  on  you  ;  and  I  don't  choose  to  see 
the  drift  of  your  question." 

The  devil  had  so  thoroughly  by  this  time  pos- 
sessed Royston  Keene,  that  even  his  voice  was 
changed  into  a  hoarse,  guttural  whisper.  "  I  asked, 
because  I  mean  to  kill  you."  \ 

Mark's  gaze  met  the  savage  eyes  that  gleamed 
like  a  famished  panther's,  with  an  expression  too 
calm  for  defiance,  though  there  might  have  been  I 
perhaps  a  shade  of  contempt. 

"  Of  course  I  shall  guard  my  own  life  as  best  I 


276  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

may,  either  here  or  elsewhere  ;  but  I  do  not  ap- 
prehend it  is  in  great  danger.  There  is  an  old 
proverb  about  ^  threatened  men  ; '  they  are  not 
killed  so  easily  as  women  are  betrayed.  Beyond 
the  simplest  self-defence,  I  warn  you  that  I  shall 
not  resent  any  insult  or  attack.  I  will  not  meet 
you  in  the  field  ;  and,  as  for  any  personal  struggle, 
I  don't  think  that  even  you  would  like  to  make 
Cecil  Tresilyan  the  occasion  for  a  broil  that  might 
suit  two  drunken  peasants." 

Though  shorter  by  half  a  head,  and  altogether 
cast  in  a  less  colossal  mould,  as  he  stood  there, 
with  his  square,  well-knit  frame,  and  bold  Saxon 
face,  he  looked  no  contemptible  antagonist  to  con- 
front the  swarthy  giant.  Li  utter  insensibility  to 
fear,  and  carelessness  of  consequences,  (so  far  as 
they  could  affect  a  steady  resolve,)  the  Cool  Cap- 
tain had  met  his  match  at  last.  Even  then,  in  the 
crisis  of  his  stormy  passion,  he  was  able  to  appre- 
ciate a  hardihood  so  congenial  to  his  own  charac- 
ter ;  pondering  upon  these  things  afterwards,  he 
always  confessed  that  at  this  juncture,  and  indeed 
all  throughout,  his  opponent  had  very  much  the 
best  of  it.  Ferocity  and  violence  seemed  puerile 
and  out  of  place  when  contrasted  with  that  tran- 
quil audacity.  He  covered  his  eyes  with  his  hand 
for  a  moment  or  so,  and  when  he  raised  his  face 
it  had  recovered  its  natural  impassibility,  though 
the  ghastly  pallor  still  remained.  Besides,  the 
truth  of  Waring's  last  words  struck  him  forcibly. 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  277 

He  muttered  under  his  breath,  "  By  G — d,  he  's 
right  there,  at  all  events  ;  "  then  he  said  aloud, 
"  Well,  it  appears  you  won't  fight ;  so  there  is  lit- 
tle more  to  be  said  between  us.  You  think  you 
can  thwart  my  purposes,  or  mould  them  as  you 
like.  We  '11  try  it.  I  told  you  I  had  many  things 
to  do  to-night :  I  have  one  more  than  I  dreamt  of 
on  hand.     I  wish  to  be  alone." 

Mark  gazed  wistfully  at  the  speaker,  without 
stirring  from  his  seat.  "  I  know  what  your  inten- 
tion is  perfectly  well.  You  mean  to  follow  her. 
I  believe  it  would  be  quite  in  vain  ;  you  have  mis- 
judged Cecil  Tresilyan,  if  you  fancy  that  she  would 
alter  her  determination  twice.  But  you  might 
give  her  great  pain,  and  compromise  her  more 
cruelly  than  you  have  done  already.  There  are 
obstacles  now  in  your  way  that  you  could  not  en- 
counter without  causing  open  scandal.  Her  broth- 
er's suspicions  are  fairly  roused  by  this  time,  and 
he  cannot  help  doing  his  duty :  he  may  be  weak 
and  credulous,  but  he  is  no  coward.  There  is  no 
fear  of  further  interference  from  me  :  my  part  is 
played.  But  I  do  beseech  you  to  pause.  Suppos- 
ing the  very  worst,  —  that  you  could  still  succeed 
in  persuading  Cecil  to  her  ruin,  —  are  you  pre- 
pared deliberately  to  accept  the  consequences  of 
the  crime  ?  You  are  far  more  experienced  in  such 
matters  than  I :  do  you  know  a  single  instance  of 
such  guilt  being  accomplished  where  both,  before 
the  year  was  ended,  did  not  wish  it  undone  ?     I 

24 


278  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

do  not  pretend  to  be  interested  about  your  future ; 
but  I  believe  I  am  speaking  now  as  your  dearest 
friend  might  speak.  You  both  delude  yourselves 
miserably,  if  you  think  that  Cecil  could  live  under 
disgrace.  I  do  you  so  much  justice.  You  would 
find  it  unendurable  to  see  her  withering  away  day 
by  day,  with  no  prospect  before  her  but  a  hopeless 
death.  In  God's  name,  draw  back  while  'there  is 
time.  It  is  only  a  sharp  struggle,  and  self-com- 
mand and  self-denial  will  come.  Loneliness  is 
bitter  to  bear  :  I  know  that :  but  what  is  manhood 
worth,  if  it  cannot  bear  its  burdens  ?  I  have  put 
everything  on  the  lowest  grounds  ;  and  I  will  ask 
you  one  question  more,  —  you  might  guard  her 
from  some  suffering,  by  hiding  her  from  the 
world's  scorn,  —  could  you  guard  yourself  against 
satiety  ?  " 

He  spoke  without  a  trace  of  anger  or  animosity, 
and  the  grave,  kind  tones  made  some  way  in  the 
winding  avenues  leading  to  Royston's  heart.  Be- 
sides this,  the  last  word  struck  the  chord  of  the 
misgiving  that  had  haunted  him  ever  since  he 
proposed  the  flight,  and  had  already  made  him 
half  repent  it.  But*  the  fortress  did  not  yet  sur- 
render. 

"All  this  while  you  have  had  some  idea  of 
improving  your  own  position  with  Cecil.  It  is 
natural  enough  :  yet  I  fancy  you  will  find  yourself 
mistaken  there." 

Instead  of  flushing  at  the  taunt.  Waring' s  face 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  279 

grew  paler,  and  there  shot  across  it  a  sharp  spasm 
of  pain. 

"  So  you  cannot  understand  disinterestedness," 
he  said.  '•  Before  I  ventured  on  interference,  I  was 
aware  of  the  certain  consequences,  and  weighed 
them  all.  Miss  Tresilyan  thought  she  had  done 
me  some  wrong ;  and  I  trusted  to  her  generosity 
to  help  me  when  I  spoke  for  the  Right.  But  I 
knew  that  the  spell  could  only  be  used  once,  and 
that  the  cancelled  debt  could  not  be  revived.  I 
shall  never  speak  to  her  —  perhaps  never  see  her 
—  on  earth  again.  Do  you  imagine  I  love  her  less 
for  that  ?  Hear  this  :  I  suppose  I  have  as  much 
pride  as  most  men  ;  but  I  would  kneel  down  here 
and  set  your  foot  on  my  neck  if  I  thought  the 
humiliation  would  save  her  one  iota  of  shame  or 
sorrow." 

Keene  was  fairly  vanquished.  He  was  filled 
with  a  great  contempt  for  his  own  guilty  passion, 
compared  with  the  pure  self-sacrifice  of  Mark's 
simple  chivalry.  He  raised  his  eyes  from  the 
ground,  on  which  they  had  been  bent  gloomily 
while  the  other  was  speaking,  and  answered  with- 
out hesitation,  "  I  owe  you  some  amends  for  much 
that  has  been  said  to-night ;  and  I  will  not  keep 
you  in  suspense  a  moment  unnecessarily.  I  shall 
leave  Dorade  to-morrow  ;  but  it  will  not  be  to 
follow  Cecil  Tresilyan.  More  than  this :  if  there 
is  any  chance  of  our  meeting  hereafter,  on  my 
honor,  I  will  avoid  it.     I  wish  many  things  could 


280  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

be  unsaid  and  undone  ;  but  nothing  has  occurred 
that  is  past  remedy.  As  far  as  any  future  inten- 
tions of  mine  are  concerned,  I  swear  she  is  as  safe 
as  if  she  were  my  sister." 

"Waring  drew  a  long  breath,  as  if  a  ponderous 
weight  had  been  lifted  from,  his  chest.  "  1  believe 
you,"  he  said  simply:  then  he  rose  to  go.  He  had 
almost  reached  the  door,  when  he  turned  suddenly 
and  stretched  out  his  hand.  It  was  a  perfectly 
unaccountable  and  perhaps  involuntary  impulse  ; 
for  he  still  could  not  absolve  the  other  from  dark 
and  heavy  guilt.  The  Major  held  it  for  a  few  sec- 
onds in  a  gripe  that  would  have  paralyzed  weaker 
fingers ;  even  Mark's  tough  joints  and  muscles  were 
long  in  forgetting  it.  He  muttered  these  words 
between  his  teeth  as  he  let  it  go,  —  "  You  were 
worthy  of  her."  So  the  interview  ended  —  in 
peace.  Nevertheless,  there  was  little  peace  that 
night  for  Royston  Keene ;  he  passed  it  alone,  — 
how,  no  mortal  can  know ;  but  the  next  morning  his 
appearance  fully  bore  out  the  truth  of  the  ancient 
aphorism,  "There  is  no  rest  for  the  wicked."  His 
face  was  set  in  the  stoniest  calmness,  but  the 
features  were  haggard 'and  drawn,  and  fresh  lines 
and  furrows  were  there  deeper  than  should  have 
been  engraved  by  half  a  score  of  years.  A  violent, 
passionate  nature  does  not  lightly  resign  the  one 
object  of  its  aims  and  desires.  Larches  and  firs 
will  bear  moving  cautiously,  for  they  are  well- 
regulated  plants,  and  natives  of  a  frigid  zone  ; 
but  transplanting  rarely  succeeds  in  the  tropics. 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  281 

Harry  Molynciix  came  to  his  friend's  apart- 
ments early  on  the  following  day,  in  a  very  uncom- 
fortable and  perplexed  frame  of  mind.  Li  the  first 
place,  he  was  sensible  of  that  depression  of  spirits 
which  is  always  the  portion  of  those  who  are  left 
behind  when  any  social  circle  is  broken  np,  by  the 
removal  of  its  principal  elements.  There  is  no 
such  nuisance  as  having  to  stay  and  put  the  lights 
out.  Besides  this,  he  was  quite  uncertain  in  what 
temper  Royston  would  be  found  ;  and  apprehended 
some  desperate  outbreak  from  the  latter,  which 
would  bring  things,  already  sufficiently  compli- 
cated, into  a  more  perilous  coil. 

Keene's  first  abrupt  words  in  part  reassured 
him. 

^'  Well,  it  is  all  over ;  and  I  am  going  straight 
back  to  England." 

Harry  felt  so  relieved  that  he  forgot  to  be  con- 
siderate :  he  could  not  repress  his  exultation. 

"Is  it  really  all  over  ?     I  am  so  very  glad  !  " 

"  And  I  am  not  sorry,"  was  the  reply.  The 
speaker  probably  persuaded  himself  that  he  was 
uttering  the  truth  ;  but  the  dreary,  hopeless  ex- 
pression of  his  stricken  face  gave  his  words  the  lie. 
It  cut  deep  into  Molyneux's  kind  heart ;  he  felt 
more  painfully  than  he  had  ever  done  the  dif- 
ficulty of  reconciling  his  evident  duty  with  the 
demand  of  an  ancient  friendship  ;  on  the  whole, 
a  guilty  consciousness  of  treachery  predominated. 
He  was  discreet  enough  to  forbear  all  questions, 

24* 


282  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

and  it  was  not  till  long  afterwards  that  lie  heard 
an  outline  of  part  of  what  had  happened  in  the 
past  night ;  it  was  told  in  a  letter  from  Miss  Tresil- 
yan  to  his  wife.  Had  he  been  more  inquisitive, 
his  curiosity  would  scarcely  have  been  gratified. 
To  do  Keene  justice,  he  guarded  the  secrets  of 
others  more  jealously  than  he  kept  his  own ;  and 
he  would  have  despised  himself  for  revealing  one 
of  Cecil's,  even  to  his  old  comrade,  without  her 
knowledge  and  leave.  If  the  feeling  which  prompt- 
ed such  reticence  was  not  a  high  and  delicate 
sense  of  honor,  it  was  at  least  a  very  efficient  sub- 
stitute for  a  profitable  virtue. 

"  You  go  to  England  ?  "  Molyneux  went  on, 
after  a  brief  pause.  "  When  do  you  start  ?  and  what 
do  you  mean  to  do  ? " 

Royston  looked  up,  and  saw  his  own  discontent 
reflected  in  the  countenance  of  his  faithful  subal- 
tern ;  he  knew  he  had  found  there  the  sympathy 
that  he  was  too  proud  to  ask  of  any  living  man. 

"■  I  start  to-night,"  he  re^^lied ;  ''  so  you  see  I 
have  no  time  to  lose.  I  can  hardly  tell  you  what 
I  mean  to  do,  Hal.  Do  you  remember  what  we 
said  about  the  best  way  of  spending  our  resources  ? 
Well  —  I  have  broken  into  my  last  large  note ; 
and  I  suppose  I  must  get  rid  somehow  of  the 
change." 

Harry's  answer  was  not  very  ready,  nor  very 
distinct  when  it  came.  "  I  wish  —  I  wish,  I  could 
help  you !  " 


SWORD    AND     GOWN.  283 

For  one  moment,  there  returned  to  Keene's  dis- 
ciplined  face  a  good,   natural   expression,  which 
had  been  a  stranger  there  since  the  days  of  his  hot 
youth  ;  when  he  first  went  forth  to  buckle  with 
the  world  —  frank,  and  honest,  and  fearless ;  his 
voice,   too,   had   softened    almost   to    tenderness. 
"  Old  friend,  the  time  has  come  to  say  good  by. 
Our  roads  have  been  the  same  —  for  longer  than  I  i 
like  to  think  of:  but  henceforth  they  must  lie  so  ) 
far  apart,  that  I  doubt  if  they  will  ever  cross  again.   I 
You  will  see  me  off,  I  know  ;  but  I  may  not  be 
able  to  say  then  a  dozen  words  that  I  should  be 
sorry  to  leave  unsaid.     I  '11  do  you  this  justice  —  i 
in  no  one  instance  have  I  ever  seen  you  flinch  | 
when  I  wanted  your  help ;  though  often  you  had 
no  object  of  your  own  to  serve.     I  believe  no  man 
ever  had  a  cheerier  comrade,  or  a  better  backer. 
I  don't  like  you  the  worse  for  standing  aloof  dur- 
ing the  last  five  weeks.     I  never  had  one  unpleas- 
ant word  from  you ;    but  if   any  of  mine   have 
vexed  or   offended    you  —  see  now  —  I   ask  your 
forgiveness  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart." 

It  is  no  shame  to  Harry's  manhood  that  he  could 
not  answer  intelligibly  ;  but  ten  sentences  of  elab- 
orate sentiment  would  hardly  have  been  so  elo- 
quent as  the  pressure  of  his  honest  hand. 

Later  in  the  day,  Keene  went  to  take  leave  of  la 
mig-nonne.  He  did  so  with  pain  and  reluctance. 
Men,  utterly  hard  and  merciless  towards  their  own 
species,  have  been  very  fond  of  their  pets  ;  even 


284  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

when  these  last  belonged  to  an  inferior  order  of 
creation.  Coiithon  would  fondle  his  spaniel  while 
he  was  signing  a  sheaf  of  death-warrants ;  and  the 
Prophet,  who  could  contemplate  placidly  a  dozen 
cities  in  flames,  and  watch  human  hecatombs  fall- 
ing under  the  sword  of  Omar  or  Ali,  cut  off  the 
sleeve  of  his  robe  rather  than  disturb  a  favorite 
cat  in  her  slumbers. 

Nevertheless,  when  two  people  agree  to  ignore 
carefully  the  one  subject  that  is  uppermost  in  the 
thoughts  of  both,  the  result  must  be  an  uncomfort- 
able constraint  and  reserve.  So  the  adieus,  up  to 
a  certain  point,  were  rather  formal.  But  just  as 
he  was  going,  the  same  impulse  overcame  Royston 
which  had  affected  him  in  his  interview  with  Harry 
Molyneux.  Considering  that  the  age  of  miracles 
is  past,  it  was  remarkable  that  twice  in  one  day  the 
Cool  Captain  should  have  approached  so  near  to 
the  verge  of  sentimentalism. 

"  I  hope  that  I  shall  see  you  again  before  long," 
he  said,  "but  nothing  seems  certain  —  not  even 
the  meeting  of  friends.  I  should  like  to  thank 
you  now  for  some  pleasant  days  and  evenings. 
You  have  brought  a  good  deal  of  sunshine  into 
my  life,  since  I  knew  you  first.  I  like  to  think 
that,  neither  in  deed  or  intention,  I  have  ever 
deliberately  done  you  or  Harry  any  harm.  I  hope 
you  will  go  on  taking  as  much  care  of  him,  and 
making  him  as  perfectly  happy  as  you  have  done. 
Perhaps  I  have  vexed  you  both,  lately;    but  all 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  285 

that  is  over,  and  I  fancy  the  punishment  will  be 
proportionate  to  the   offence   before  it  is  ended. 
Farewell.     Don't  forget  me  sooner  than  you  can 
help  ;  and  while  you  do  remember  me,  think  of  / 
me  as  kindly  as  you  can."  f 

He  leant  over  her  as  he  finished  speaking,  and' 
his  lips  just  brushed  her  smooth  forehead.  When 
Charles  the  Martyr  embraced  his  children  an  hour 
before  his  death,  they  received  no  purer  or  more 
sinless  kiss.  A  sob  choked  Fanny's  voice  when 
she  would  have  replied ;  and  the  beautiful  brown 
eyes  were  so  dim  with  rushing  tears,  that  they 
never  saw  him  go. 

Keene's  last  ^dsit  in  Dorade  was  to  the  Yicomte  : 
de  Chateaumesnil.  The  latter  manifested  no  sur-  ' 
prise  at  the  sudden  departure,  and  expressed  his 
regrets  with  a  perfectly  calm  courtesy.  But,  at 
the  moment  of  leave-taking,  he  detained  the  other's 
hand  for  a  second  or  so,  and  said,  looking  wistfully 
in  his  face,  "  Ainsi,  vous  partez-seul  ?  je  ne  I'aurais 
pas  cru ;  et,  jc  I'avoue  franchement,  5a  me  contra- 
rie.  N'importe ;  je  connois  votre  jeu ;  et  jc  ne 
vous  tiens  pas  pour  battu,  quand  c'est  manche  a. 
Ce  serait  une  betise,  de  dire  —  'au  revoir.'  Adieu; 
amusez  vous  bien." 

Royston  shook  his  head  impatiently  ;  he  was  too 
proiid  to  save  his  credit  by  dissembling  a  defeat ; 
and  his  reply  was  quick  and  decisive. 

^'Yous  mo  flattez,  M.  Ic  Yicomte.  Quand  on 
pcrd,  on  doit,  au  moins  I'avouer  loyalement,  et 


286  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

payer  I'eii  jeu.  Cette  fois  j'ai  taiit  perdu,  que  je 
lie  prendrai  pas  la  revanche." 

Not  another  word  was  exchanged  between  them ; 
but  Armand  had  accepted  repulses  in  his  time  with 
more  equanimity  than  he  could  muster  when  rumi- 
nating afterwards  on  the  discomfiture  of  Royston 
Keene. 

Some  days  later  the  subject  was  discussed  at  the 
Cercle  ;  and  one  of  the  habitues  hazarded  several 
cunning  conjectures,  and  more  than  cynical  sur- 
mises. (Did  you  ever  hear  a  thoroughly  profli- 
gate Frenchman  sneer  a  woman's  character  away  ? 
It  is  almost  worth  while  overcoming  your  disgust 
to  listen  to  the  diabolical  ingenuity  of  his  innuen- 
does. The  scandal  of  our  bitterest  dowagers 
sounds  charitable  by  comparison.)  The  savage 
outbreak  of  the  Algerian's  temper,  that  every  one 
had  long  been  expecting,  came  at  last,  with  a  ven- 
geance ! 

"  Tu  mens,  canaille !  C'est  le  meilleur  eloge 
de  M.  Keene,  que  les  marans  comme  toi,  ne  puis- 
sent  le  comprendre.  Quand  a  Mademoiselle  —  elle 
vaut  mille  fois  tes  soeurs,  et  ta  mere.  Si  tu  as  le 
coeur  de  pousser  I'affaire,  je  te  donnerai  raison  sur 
mes  bequilles.  Pour  le  pistolet,  ma  main  n'est  pas 
encore  percluse."  He  held  it  out,  as  steady  and 
strong  as  it  was  in  the  old  days,  when  it  could 
sway  the  sabre  from  dawn  to  twilight  and  never 
know  weariness. 

If  the  other  persuaded  himself  that  consideration 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  28T 

for  the  invalid's  infirmities  made  him  patient  un- 
der the  insult,  his  friends  were  less  romantically 
credulous  :  the  stigma  of  that  night  cleaves  to  him 
still.  Brazen  it  out  as  he  may,  the  hang-dog  look 
remains,  telling  us  that  the  barriers  have  been  at 
least  once  broken  down  which  separate  the  man 
from  the  serf.  There  would  be,  perhaps,  less  mis- 
chief abroad  if  slander  were  always  so  promptly 
and  amply  avenged. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

NOT  long  after  the  events  here  recorded,  came 
a  time  that  we  all  remember  right  well,  when 
without  note  of  preparation  the  war-trumpets 
sounded  from  the  East  and  the  North ;  when  Eu- 
rope woke  up,  like  a  giant  refreshed,  from  the 
slumber  of  a  forty  years'  peace,  and  took  down 
disused  weapons  from  the  wall,  and  donned  a 
rusted  armor.  It  was  a  time  rife  with  romantic 
episodes ;  and,  as  such  seasons  must  ever  be, 
fraught  with  peril  to  the  prudence  of  womankind. 
There  was  perpetual  recurrence  of  the  striking  an- 
tithesis which  happened  at  Brussels  before  Waterloo, 
when  the  roll  of  the  distant  cannon  at  Quatre  Bras 
mingled  with  the  music  of  the  Duchess's  ball. 
The  coldest  reserve  is  apt  to  melt  rapidly,  and  the 
most  skilful  coquetry  is  brought  to  bay,  when  op- 
posed to  pleading  urged  possibly  for  the  last  time. 
Those  were  days  of  rebuke  and  blasphemy  to  "  the 
gentlemen  of  England  who  sate  at  home  at  ease  ;  " 
and  even  the  Foreign  Office  "  irresistibles  "  could 
hardly  hold  their  own.  What  chance  have  the 
honeyed  words  of  the  accomplished  civilian  against 
the  simple  eloquence  of  the  soldier,  who  speaks 


SWORD     AND    GOWN.  289 

with  his  Hfe  in  his  hand  ?  Truly  there  were  many 
conquests  then  achieved  of  which  the  workl  knew 
nothing,  for  the  victor  never  came  back  to  claim 
his  prize. 

When  the  funeral  of  the  Great  Duke  went  by, 
it  was  easy  to  find  fault  with  some  of  the  de- 
tails of  that  pretentious  pageant ;  but  which  of  us 
was  cool  enough  to  criticise,  on  the  gray  February 
morning,  when  the  Guards  marched  out  ?  There 
were  practised  veterans  enough  to  be  found  in  their 
ranks ;  and  each  of  these  perhaps  could  number 
some  who  loved  him  dearly  ;  but  none  in  the 
column  won  such  hearty  sympathy  as  those  ''  trim 
subalterns,  holding  their  swords  daintily,"  who 
went  forth  to  their  doom  gayly  and  gallantly,  as  if 
pestilence  were  not  lying  in  ambush  at  fever- 
stricken  Yarna,  and  lines  of  hungry  graves  wait- 
ing for  their  prey  in  the  bleak  Chersonese.  Surely, ( 
there  were  sadder  faces  at  home  than  any  that 
lined  the  road  ;  and  the  anxious  crowd  at  the  sta- 
tion represented  very  inadequately  the  '^  girls  they 
left  behind  them." 

When  the  first  certain  rumors  of  war  prevailed, 
Royston  Keene  was  shooting  woodcocks  in  the  Hebri- 
des ;  he  hastened  back  to  town  without  a  moment's 
delay.  We  know  how  quick  and  unerring,  on  such 
occasions,  is  the  instinct  of  the  Rapacida3.  His 
object  was  to  get  on  the  active-service  list  as  soon 
as  possible.  With  his  powerful  interest  and  high 
reputation,  this  was  not  difficult ;  and  he  was  soon 


290  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

gazetted  to  a  Light  Cavalry  regiment.  But  he  did 
not  go  out  with  the  first  detachments,  and  the 
summer  was  far  advanced  when  he  reached  the 
Crimea. 

There  was  great  jubilation  at  his  coming.  Many 
out  there  knew  him  personally,  well ;  and  others 
rejoiced  at  having  the  opportunity  of  judging  for 
themselves  if  he  really  deserved  his  fame.  It 
soon  became  apparent  that  the  Cool  Captain  was 
strangely  altered.  To  be  sure,  the  opportunities 
for  general  conviviality  were  few,  for  mess-rooms 
and  anterooms  were  phantoms  of  the  imagination, 
or  only  pleasant  memories  ;  still,  there  was  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  agreeable  though  select  reunions^ 
where  the  vintages  of  Bordeaux  and  Burgundy 
were  sufficiently  replaced  by  regulation  rum.  At 
these  Royston  appeared  rarely ;  and  when  he  did 
show  there,  was  remarkably  silent,  and  apt  to  let  a 
favorable  opportunity,  even  for  a  sarcasm,  go  by. 
He  seemed  to  prefer  the  solitude  of  his  own  tent 
to  the  most  tempting  inducements  of  society.  Men 
remembered  afterwards  how,  if  they  went  in  and 
found  him  alone,  he  was  always  busy  with  his  re- 
volver, or  playing  with  his  sabre.  He  had  refused 
two  advantageous  offers  of  staff"  appointments,  for 
no  apparent  reason  except  the  desire  not  to  be 
out  of  the  way  if  any  work  were  to  be  done  ;  and 
scarcely  a  day  passed  when  he  was  not  up  at 
Head-quarters,  trying  to  find  out  if  there  was  any 
chance  of  a  break  in  the  lono:  inaction  of  the  Cav- 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  291 

airy.  Whether  it  was  that  the  old  blood-thirsti-  ; 
ness  had  waked  again  in  a  congenial  atmosphere,  j 
or  whether  a  great  weariness  weighing  on  his  i 
spirits  made  him  so  impatient  and  restless,  none 
can  know  for  certahi.  Again  I  say,  let  iis  not  sift  , 
motives  too  inquisitively.  \ 

It  is  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  October,  and  a 
lull  comes  between  the  storm-gusts.     The  "  Heav- 
ies "  have  just  taken  up  their  position,  after  that 
magnificent  charge,  in  which  the  Russian  lancers 
were  scattered  like  dead  leaves  in  autumn  when 
the  wind  is  blowing  freshly.     There  are  murmurs  f. 
of  discontent  running  through  the  ranks  of  the   'i 
Light  Brigade  :    it  seems  as  if  their  chance  was    ' 
never   coming.      One    of  his   intimates   grumbles 
as  much  to  Royston  Keene,     The  Cool  Captain 
straightens   a   stray  lock  of  his  charger's   mane, 
and  answers,  with  his  old  provoking  smile  — 

"  Don't  fret  yourself,   George.     I  have  a  pre-  | 
sentiment  that  we  shall  get  rid  of  the  '  fidgets ' 
before  we  sleep.     See  —  that  looks  like  business."  , 

It  seemed  as  if  a  spirit  of  prophecy  possessed  \ 
him ;  for  even  while  he  was  speaking,  the  aide-de- 
camp came  down  at  speed.     There  was  a  pause  ■ 
while  that  message  was  delivered,  the  exact  words 
of  which  will  never  be  known  —  for  you  cannot 
summon  the  dead  as  witnesses  ;  then  a  brief  hesi- 
tation, and  a  dozen  sentences  exchanged  between 
the  first  and  second  in  command  ;  and  then  —    . 
every  trooper  in  the  Brigade  understood  what  he    [ 


292  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

had  to  do.  Many  drew  true  and  evil  augury  from 
the  cloud  lowering  on  the  stern  features  of  the 
"  Haughty  Earl." 

Keene  had  been  under  fire  oftener  than  most 
there,  and  his  practised  eye  took  in  and  appre- 
ciated every  item  of  the  peril ;  nevertheless,  his 
brow  cleared,  and  all  his  face  lighted  up  strangely. 

''  What  did  I  tell  you,  young  one  ?  "  he  said  to 
the  man  who  had  addressed  him  just  before  ;  "  it 
will  be  warmer  work  than  the  old  Phoenix  field- 
days  ;  but  one  comfort  is,  it  won't  last  so  long." 

Before  the  words  were  fairly  uttered  the  trum- 
pets rang  out ;  and  with  a  gayer  laugh  on  his  lip 
than  it  had  Avorn  for  many  a  day,  the  Cool  Captain 
led  his  squadron  gallantly  into  Aceldama. 

We  will  not  describe  the  charge.  Enthusiasts 
are  not  wanting  who  would  rather  have  ridden  in 
it  than  have  won  the  highest  distinction  to  which 
civilians  can  aspire.  Who  dares  to  object  that  it 
was  not  ultimately  successful  ?  Such  a  taunt  has 
never  been  weighed  in  the  balance  against  the 
glories  of  Thermopylge.  I  frequently  meet  in  so- 
ciety one  of  the  Paladins  of  that  fatal  Poncesvalles. 
In  private  life  he  has  few  peculiarities,  except  a 
tendency  to  engage  in  each  and  every  game  of 
chance,  and  a  perfect  monomania  for  waltzing. 
Yet  I  regard  him  with  an  immense  respect  and 
reverence,  that  the  object  of  the  feeling  would  be 
the  last  to  understand.  I  think  of  the  awfid  peril 
out  of  which  the  delicate,  feminine  face  has  come 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  293 

without  a  scar ;  and  I  protest  I  would  no  more 
dream  of  speaking  to  him  angrily  or  slightingly, 
than  I  would  venture  to  discourse  about  the  Derby 

to  the  Bishop  of  0 ,  or  to  offer  to  that  dignified 

prelate  the  current  odds  against  the  favorite.    Rely 
upon  it,  in  many  homes  of  England  (if  the  Man- 
chesterians  leave  them  standing)  there  will  be  one  | 
family  portrait  that  our  children  will  most  delight  1 
to  honor.     Pointing  out  to  strangers  the  crowning  ^ 
glory  of  their  house,  they  will  pass  by  grave  effigies 
of  la^v}'ers,  ecclesiastics,  and  statesmen,  and  pause 
opposite  to  a  martial  figure,  dressed  in  the  uniform 
of  a  Light  Dragoon.     All  his  ancestors  shall  give 
precedence  to  the  simple  soldier,  who  rode  that 
day  in  the  van  of  the  Six  Hundred. 

Yes,  we  will  leave  that  charge  alone.  The  most 
hackneyed  of  professional  litterateurs  might  shrink 
from  sitting  down  to  his  writing-desk,  to  make 
merchandise  of  such  a  "  deed  of  derrinsr-do.''^ 
Nevertheless,  Royston  Keene  bore  his  part  in  it  \ 
manfully  ;  and  the  troopers  talk  yet  of  the  feats  of 
skill  and  strength  wrought  by  his  sabre. 

The  immunity  from  dangers  of  shot  and  steel,    ' 
for  which  he  had  been  always  remarkable,  did  not    ' 
seem  to  have  deserted  him ;  for  he  had  come  out 
of  the  batteries  without  a  scratch,  and  had  fought 
his  way  through  more  than  one  knot  and  pcloton 
of  the  enemy,  with  no  scathe  beyond  a  slight  flesh-    ' 
wound.     In  one  of  these   encounters  he  had  got 
separated  from  such  remnants  of  liis  squadron  as 

25* 


294  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

still  held  together,  (you  know  even  regiments  lost 
their  unity  in  that  terrible  melee  ;)  the  only  man 
who  still  kept  near  him  was  his  covering-sergeant. 
All  this  while  the  fire  from  the  Russian  guns  on 
the  hill-side  grew  heavier  and  heavier,  while  the 
cruel  grape-shot  ripped  through  the  mingled 
masses  of  friends  and  foes  ;  making  sudden,  un- 
sightly gaps  here  and  there,  just  as  may  be  seen 
in  a  field  of  ripe  corn  "  laid  "  by  the  lashing  hail. 
The  good  horse  on  which  Keene  was  mounted  had 
not  been  out  from  England  long  enough  to  suffer 
materially  in  wind  or  limb ;  he  was  in  very  fair 
condition,  and  had  carried  his  master  splendidly  so 
far,  with  equal  luck  in  escaping  any  serious  injury. 
Five  hundred  yards  more  would  have  placed  them 
in  safety,  within  the  position  where  the  Heavy 
Brigade  was  already  moving  up  to  cover  the  re- 
treat of  their  comrades,  when  the  Templar,  going 
at  top-speed,  pitched  suddenly  forwards,  as  a  ship 
does  when  she  founders ;  and,  after  rolling  once 
half  over  his  rider,  lay  still,  with  limbs  just  faintly 
quivering.  Two  grape-shot,  making  one  wound,  had 
crashed  right  into  his  chest  and  through  the  heart. 

His  covering-sergeant  was  within  three  lengths 
of  Royston  when  the  latter  went  down  :  he  pulled 
up  and  sprang  down  instantly,  and  was  by  his 
officer's  side  in  a  second,  trying  to  extricate  him. 

"  Hold  up,  Major,"  he  said,  cheerily ;  "  that 's 
nothing.  Take  my  horse.  He  '11  carry  you  in  ; 
and  I  can  manage  well  enough," 


SWORD   AND    GOWN.  295 

The  strong  soldier  reeled,  from  sheer  weakness,  ; 
as  he  was  speaking ;  for  the  blood  was  spouting  in  | 
dark-red  jets  from  a  ghastly  cut  in  his  bridle  arm  :   ; 
yet  he  seemed  to  see  nothing  in  his  offer  but  a 
simple  act  of  duty  ;  though  men  have  won  a  place  \ 
in   history   for   meaner  self-sacrifice.     One  of  the  | 
most  remarkable  peculiarities  about  the  Cool  Cap-  [ 
tain  was  the  hold  he  maintained  over  the  affec-  \ 
tions  and  impulses  of  those  with  whom  he  was  \ 
brought  in  contact,  without  any  visible  reason  for   i» 
such  influence.     He  was  the  strictest  possible  dis-  | 
ciplinarian ;  and  his  demeanor  towards  his  subor-  i| 
dinates  was  consistently  dictatorial ;  yet  the  pres-  \\ 
ent  case  was  only  one  instance  of  the  enthusiasm  ]\ 
with  which  they  regarded  him. 

Keene  looked  up  at  the  speaker  wistfully,  from 
where  he  lay ;  and  his  face  softened  in  its  set  stern- 
ness. 

"  You  're  a  good  fellow,  Davis,"  he  said  ;  '-  but 
I  would  not  avail  myself  of  your  generosity  if  I 
could.     I  can't  take  much  credit  for  refusing  it. 
My  thigh  is  broken  ;  and  I  am  hurt  besides.     I 
could  n't  keep  the  saddle  for  ten  seconds.     Draw 
my  right  gauntlet  off,  and  take  my  ring ;  you  de-  ( 
serve  it   better   than   the  Cossacks.      Keep  it  as  \ 
long  as  you  like  ;  it  will  always  bring  you  a  fifty,  1 
if  you  get  hard  up.     And  take  this  too."     He  put   '; 
his  hand  into  the  breast  of  his  uniform  ;  but  drew 
it  back   quickly.      "  No ;    it   shall   stay  with   me 
while  I  live."  ' 


296  SWORD  AND    GOWN. 

His  tone  and  manner  were  just  the  same  as  if 
he  had  met  with  a  heavy  fall,  out  hunting,  and 
were  answering  some  good-natured  friend  who 
had  stopped  to  pick  him  up. 

The  trooper  took  the  ring ;  hut  he  lingered  still. 
Royston  saw  a  knot  of  the  enemy  sweeping  down 
on  them,  like  ravens  on  a  stag  wounded  to  the 
death ;  his  voice  resumed  its  wonted  accent  of 
irresistible  command. 

"  Did  you  hear  what  I  said  ?  I  told  you  to  go. 
Those  devils  will  he  down  on  us  in  less  than  a 
minute.  I  have  not  fired  one  barrel  of  my  re- 
volver, and  I  'm  good  for  one  or  two  of  them  yet." 

The  habit  of  obedience,  more  than  the  instinct 
of  self-preservation,  made  Davis  mount  and  ride 
away  without  another  word.  He  looked  back, 
though,  as  he  did  so.  He  heard  three  distinct 
reports  from  Keene's  revolver  :  two  of  the  ene- 
my's skirmishers  dropped  to  the  shots,  and  the 
third  wavered  in  his  saddle  ;  the  rest  closed  round 
the  fallen  man  with  levelled  lances.  The  stout 
sergeant  looked  back  no  more  ;  but  he  set  his 
teeth  hard,  and  turned  out  of  his  way  to  encoun- 
ter a  stray  Russian,  and  laid  the  foeman's  face 
open  from  eyebrow  to  lip,  with  an  awful  blas- 
phemy. The  spot  where  Royston  fell  was  so  near 
to  the  British  lines  that  those  wlio  slaughtered 
him  dared  not  stay  for  j^lunder.  Half  an  hour 
later,  Davis  and  two  more  volunteers  went  out 
and  brought  in  the  mangled  body  of  the  best 
swordsman  in  the  Light  Brigade. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

"VrOT  dead  yet ! 

\^  Though  the  bloody  Muscovite  spearmen 
thought  they  left  a  corpse  behind  them,  and 
though  the  surgeons  who  examined  him  decided 
that  he  could  not  survive  the  night,  the  obstinate 
vitality  in  Royston  Keene  still  lingered  on,  refus- 
ing to  yield  to  wounds  that  might  have  drained 
the  life  out  of  three  strong  men.  It  seemed  as 
if  some  strange  doom  were  upon  him,  such  as 
was  laid  on  the  Black  Slave  in  the  Arabian 
Nights,  loved  by  the  enchantress-queen ;  or  a 
Durindarte  in  the  old  romance,  where  the  tor- 
tured spirit,  enthralled  by  potent  spells,  was 
withheld  for  a  season  from  departure,  though  its 
tenement  was  all  shattered  and  ruined.  His  case 
from  the  first  was  utterly  hopeless  ;  and  his  bodily 
helplessness  at  times  almost  resembled  catalepsy ; 
yet  his  faculties  were  quite  clear.  He  could  recog- 
nize his  friends,  and  talk  with  them  quite  com- 
posedly :  cry  or  complaint  never  once  issued  from 
those  rigid  lips.  They  sent  him  down  to  Scutari 
at  last,  —  not  with  any  hope  of  his  recovery,  but 
wishing  to  insure  him  all  available  comforts  in  his 


298  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

dying  moments.  It  was  a  rough  passage  (even  on 
invalids  the  cruel  Euxine  had  little  mercy)  this, 
and  the  pain  of  transport  through  the  few  hundred 
yards  that  were  between  the  vessel  and  the  hospital 
almost  exhausted  the  dregs  of  Royston's  strength. 
When  they  laid  him  down  on  the  bed  allotted  to 
him,  in  a  small  room  of  the  main  ward,  of  which 
he  was  to  be  the  sole  tenant,  none  of  the  surgeons 
could  have  told  if  they  were  dealing  with  life  or 
death.  Work  was  so  heavy  on  their  hands  at  that 
dreadful  season,  that  they  could  not  devote  more 
than  a  certain  space  of  precious  time  to  any  one 
patient ;  so  after  trying  all  means  and  appliances  of 
recovery  in  vain,  they  left  Keene  for  a  while  in  his 
swoon.  It  seemed  as  if  he  never  would  open  his 
eyes  again.  They  unclosed  slowly  at  last,  still 
dim  with  tlK3  deatlily  faintness ;  his  head  was  dizzy 
and  confused ;  and  in  his  ears  there  was  a  dull, 
droning  sound,  like  the  murmur  of  a  distant  sea. 
As  objects  and  sounds  assumed  more  distinctness, 
he  became  aware  of  the  figure  of  a  woman  sitting 
on  the  ground  by  the  side  of  his  couch,  —  her 
head  buried  in  her  hands,  —  rocking  herself  ever 
to  and  fro,  and  never  pausing  in  her  low,  heart- 
broken wail.  If  old  tales  speak  truth,  such  a 
figure  might  be  seen  in  dark  corners  of  haunted 
houses  ;  and  such  a  wail  might  echo  at  dead  of 
night  through  chambers  conscious  of  some  fearful 
crime.  Instinct  more  than  reason  revealed  to 
Royston  the  truth. 


SWORD     AND     GOWN.  299 

The  lips  that  under  the  thrusts  of  Russian 
lances,  and  through  all  subsequent  tortures,  had 
guarded  so  jealously  the  secret  of  his  agony, 
could  not  repress  a  groan  as  they  syllabled  the 
name  of —  Cecil  Tresilyan. 

It  was  so.  The  brilliant  beauty  who  for  two 
seasons  had  ruled  the  world  in  which  she  moved 
so  imperiously  —  insatiate  of  conquest,  and  defy- 
ing rivalry  —  the  delicate  aristocrate  who  from  her 
childhood  had  been  used  to  every  imaginable  lux- 
ury, and  had  appreciated  them  all  —  Avas  found 
again,  here,  in  the  gray  robe  of  a  Sister  of  Charity, 
content  to  endure  real,  bitter  hardships,  and  to 
witness  daily  sights  from  which  womanhood,  with 
all  its  bravery,  must  needs  recoil.  The  motives 
that  had  urged  her  to  such  a  step  would  be  hard 
indeed  to  define.  The  same  weariness  and  impa- 
tience of  inaction  that  have  been  alluded  to  in  the 
case  of  Royston  Keene  may  have  had  much  to  do 
with  it ;  to  this,  perhaps,  was  added  a  feeling  of 
wild  remorse,  seeking  to  vent  itself  in  self-torturing 
penance,  such  as  impelled  kings  and  conquerors 
in  old  days  to  don  the  palmer's  gown,  and  macer- 
ate their  bodies  by  fast  and  scourge  ;  there  may 
have  been,  too,  some  vague,  unacknowledged  long- 
ing to  seize  the  last  chance  of  seeing  her  lost  love 
once  again.  Might  she  not  tend  him  as  she  nursed 
the  other  wounded,  without  adding  to  the  weight 
of  her  sin  ?  If  she  ever  entertained  such  an  idea, 
lier   punishment   may  well   have   atoned   for   her 


;jOO  sword     and    gown. 

oiTence,  when  she  came  suddenly  and  unprepared 
into  that  sick  chamber,  and  looked  upon  the 
mangled  wreck  lying  senseless  there. 

Royston  spoke  first.  "  What  brought  you  here  ?  " 
If  it  was  ]X)ssible  that  he  could  feel  anything  like 
terror,  surely  the  hollow,  tremulous  voice  betrayed 
it  then. 

Cecil  Tresilyan  sprang  to  her  feet  as  if  an  elec- 
tric shock  had  moved  her,  and  stood  gazing  at  him 
with  her  great,  desolate,  tearless  eyes  ;  all  her  mis- 
ery could  not  make  them  hard  or  haggard,  nor 
dispel  their  marvellous  enchantment.  Royston 
marked  the  impulse  that  would  have  drawn  her  to 
his  side ;  and  threw  out  one  weak  hand  to  warn 
her  off;  wdth  the  other  he  tried  to  cover  his  own 
scarred,  ghastly  face.  "  Don't  come  near  me,"  he 
muttered  ;  ''  1  can't  bear  it."  Her  woman's  in- 
stinct fathomed  his  meaning  instantly  :  he  thought 
that  even  she  must  shrink  from  him.  She  laughed 
out  loud  (for  her  brain  was  almost  turning)  as  she 
knelt  down  and  raised  his  head  on  her  arm,  and 
smoothed  his  matted  hair,  and  kissed  the  death- 
damp  from  his  forehead,  murmuring  between  the 
caresses,  "■  You  dare  not  keep  me  from  you.  Do 
you  think  that  /fear  you,  my  own  —  my  own !  " 

The  glory  of  a  great  triumph  —  grand,  even  if 
sinful  —  lighted  up  the  face  of  the  dying  man;  and 
intense  passion  made  even  his  voice  strong  and 
steady.  ''  I  believe  this  is  better  than  the  paradise 
we  dreamed  of  in  tlie  island  of  the  Greek  Sea." 


SWORD     AND     GOWN.  301 

Without  a  moment's  pause  the  sweet,  sad  voice 
replied  —  "  Yes,  it  is  better.  TJien  I  should  have 
died  first,  and  hopelessly.  Noiu  there  is  no  guilt 
between  us  that  may  not  be  forgiven." 

Silence  lasted  till  Royston  gathered  energy  to 
speak  again. 

"  You  remember  the  glove  ?  See  —  I  have  not 
parted  with  it  yet."  He  drew  from  his  breast  a 
case  of  steel  links  hung  round  his  neck  by  a  chain : 
it  held  Cecil's  gauntlet  —  stained  and  stiffened  with 
his  blood.  That  was  the  treasure  he  would  not 
resign  when  he  lay  on  the  ground,  waiting  for  the 
Russian  lances.  "  You  did  not  think  that  I  should 
forget  you,  because  I  never  answered  your  let- 
ter ?  " 

As  had  happened  once  before,  a  portion  of  his 
fortitude  and  self-command  seemed  transfused  into 
Cecil  Tresilyan.     She  spoke  quite  steadily  now. 

"  How  could  I  misjudge  your  silence,  when  I 
begged  you  not  to  write  ?  I  have  been  very  mis- 
erable, thinking  how  angry  you  would  be  ;  and 
yet  I  could  not  help  what  I  did.  But  I  never  fan- 
cied you  had  forgotten  me.  Forgetting  is  not  so 
easy.  Now  tell  me  about  yourself.  I  have  heard 
of  that  glorious  charge.  But  those  terrible  wounds 
—  how  you  must  have  suiFered  I  " 

Out  of  the  dim,  glazing  eyes  flashed  for  one  mo- 
ment a  gleam  of  soldierly  2:)ride.  "  Yes,  we  rode 
straight,  on  the  twenty-fifth  —  I  amongst  the  rest. 
I  suppose  I  have  suffered  some  pain,  but  that  is  all 

26 


302  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

past  and  gone.  I  am  sensible  of  nothing  but  the 
great  happiness  of  holding  your  little  hand  once 
more.  See  —  I  can  hold  it  without  shame,  for  my 
fingers  have  not  pressed  those  of  any  woman  alive 
since  we  parted." 

She  saw  how  the  utterance  of  those  few  words 
told  upon  him ;  and  refrained  from  the  delight  of 
listening  longer  to  the  voice  that  was  still  to  her 
inexpressibly  dear.  So  she  checked  him,  fondly, 
when  he  would  have  gone  on  speaking.  Yet  the 
silence  that  ensued  was  first  broken  by  Cecil. 

"  My  own  !  I  fear  —  I  fear  that  you  are  in  great 
danger.  How  long  we  may  both  have  to  suffer, 
God  alone  can  tell.  But  will  you  not  see  a  cler- 
gyman ?  He  might  help  you,  though  I  am  weak 
and  powerless." 

A  shadow  of  the  old  sardonic  scorn  swept  across 
Keene's  emaciated  face,  and  passed  away  as  sud- 
denly. 

"  It  is  somewhat  late  for  any  help  that  priests 
can  bring.  Besides,  I  cannot  dwell  now  on  any 
of  my  past  sins,  save  one.  All  my  thoughts  are 
taken  up  with  the  wrong  that  I  have  done  to  you." 

This  was  true.  If  there  were  reproachful  phan- 
toms that  had  a  right  to  haunt  Royston's  death- 
bed, the  living  presence  kept  them  all  at  bay. 

Cecil's  eyes  had  never  been  more  eloquent  than 
they  were  then ;  but  they  spoke  of  nothing  but 
despair. 

"  Ah,  heaven !  cannot  you  see  that  all  /  have  to 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  303 

forgive  has  been  forgiven  long  ago  ?  What  is  to 
become  of  me  if  you  die  hardened  in  your  sin  ? 
Must  I  live  on,  hoping  that  we  are  parted  forever  ? 
If  you  are  pitiless  to  your  own  soul  —  have  mercy, 
at  least,  upon  me  !  '* 

All  Royston's  former  crimes  seemed  to  him  venial 
by  comparison,  as  he  witnessed  the  misery  and 
abasement  of  the  glorious  creature  on  whom  he 
had  brought  such  sorrow,  if  not  shame.  The  re- 
morse that  a  strong  will  and  hard  heart  had  stifled 
so  long  found  voice  at  last  in  three  muttered 
words  —  "God  forgive  me!"  A  very  niggardly 
and  inadequate  expression  of  contrition  —  was  it 
not  ?  —  conceded  to  a  life  whose  sins  outnumbered 
its  years.  Yet  the  slight  thread  of  hope  drawn 
therefrom  has  been  able  since  to  hold  back  Cecil 
Tresilyan  from  the  abyss  of  utter  desperation.  She 
forbore  to  press  him  further  then,  seeing  his  in- 
creasing weakness,  and  trusting,  perhaps,  that  a 
more  favorable  opportunity  would  come. 

Indeed,  there  were  a  thousand  things  to  be  said 
about  the  past,  in  which  both  had  borne  a  part, 
and  the  future,  in  which  only  one  could  share  ;  but 
Royston  had  estimated  rightly  the  extent  of  his  re- 
maining physical  resources ;  and  when  he  found  how 
each  syllable  exhausted  him,  he  became  as  chary  of 
words  as  a  miser  of  his  gold.  His  right  hand  still 
grasped  hers,  firmly ;  and  her  delicate  cheek  was 
pillowed  on  his  shoulder ;  the  fingers  of  his  other 
hand  played  gently  with  a  long,  glossy  chestnut 


304  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

tress  that  had  escaped  from  the  prison  of  the  close 
cap  she  wore.  So  they  remained,  for  a  long  time 
—  no  sound  passing  between  them,  beyond  half- 
formed  whispers  of  endearment :  no  one  came  in 
to  molest  them:  there  was  work  enough  and  to 
spare,  that  night,  for  all  in  Scutari.  The  thought 
of  interruption  never  crossed  Cecil's  mind  for  an 
instant.  Always  careless  and  defiant  of  conven- 
tionality, or  the  world's  opinion,  she  was  tenfold 
more  reckless  now.  Her  head  was  bent  down, 
and  her  eyes  closed ;  so  that  she  could  not  see 
how  the  hollows  deepened  on  her  lover's  face ; 
nor  how  the  pallor  of  his  cheek  darkened  rapidly 
to  an  ashen-gray.  But  inward  warnings  of  ap- 
proaching dissolution  spoke  plainly  enough  to 
Royston  Keene.     He  knew  what  he  had  to  do. 

He  raised  her  head  from  where  it  rested,  and 
said,  so  gently,  ''  If  my  time  is  short,  there  is  the 
more  reason  that  I  should  be  loath  to  lose  you,  even 
for  an  hour.  But  you  must  have  rest ;  and  I  feel 
as  if  I  could  sleep.  Do  not  try  to  persuade  me ; 
but  leave  me  now.  When  you  think  hereafter  of 
this  evening,  remember  what  my  last  words  were. 
/  loved  yoih  best  of  all.  Darling  —  wish  me  good 
night;  and  come  to  see  me  early  to-morrow." 

He  guessed,  full  well,  how  long  that  night  would 
last,  and  what  sight  would  meet  Cecil  on  the 
morrow ;  but  he  was  resolute  to  spare  her  one 
additional  pang,  and  so  endured  alone  the  whole 
burden  of  the  parting  agony.     His  whole  life  had 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  305 

been  full  of  deeds  of  reckless  daring  ;  but,  in  good 
truth,  this  achievement  was  its  very  crown  of 
courage. 

Now,  as  heretofore,  Cecil  was  incapable  of  resist- 
ing any  one  of  his  expressed  wishes  or  commands ; 
besides  this,  physical  exhaustion  was  beginning  to 
overcome  her ;  and  she,  too,  felt  that  it  was  time 
to  go.  She  leant  down,  without  speakmg,  and 
their  lips  met  in  a  long,  passionate  kiss.  So  little 
of  vitality  lingered  in  Royston's,  that  they  re- 
mained still  icy-cold  under  the  pressure  of  these 
ripe,  red  roses. 

"  I  will  come  again,  early,"  she  whispered. 

The  last  relics  of  a  strength  that  had  been  super- 
human passed  into  the  lingering  pressure  of  the 
hand  that  bade  her  tenderly  farewell.  Half  an 
hour  later  the  surgeon  came  to  Royston  Keene. 
All  that  night,  shrieks  and  groans,  and  other 
sounds  through  which  human  agony  finds  a  vent, 
had  been  ringing  in  his  ears,  till  they  were  weary 
of  the  din  ;  but  the  silence  of  that  chamber  struck 
the  visitor  yet  more  painfully.  He  looked,  for  a 
second,  gravely  at  the  motionless  figure  ;  and  laid 
his  ear  against  the  lips ;  no  breath  issued  thence 
that  would  have  stirred  a  feather ;  then  he  drew 
very  gently  the  sheet  over  the  dead  man's  face, — 
a  quiet,  steadfast  face,  —  that  even  in  the  death- 
throe  had  retained  its  proud,  placid  calm. 

When  Cecil  Trcsilyan  saw  that  same  sight  the 
next  morning,  she  did  not  scream  or  faint.     Nei- 

26* 


306  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

tlier  then  nor  afterwards  did  she  prove  herself  un- 
worthy of  her  haughty  lover,  by  demonstrating  or 
parading  her  sorrows.  Many  others  besides  her 
have  taken  for  their  motto,  "  The  heart  knowcth 
its  own  bitterness  ;  "  and  have  carried  it  out  to  the 
end  unflinchingly.  Yerily,  they  have  their  re- 
ward. If  there  is  little  comfort  on  this  side  the 
grave,  and  only  vague  hope  beyond  it,  it  is  some- 
thing to  escape  condolence.  We  follow  her  for- 
tunes no  farther.  It  is  needless  to  give  all  the 
details  of  the  hospital  service  which  occupied  her 
till  the  conclusion  of  the  war  set  her  free  ;  and  we 
will  not  seek  to  penetrate  into  the  retreat  in  the 
Far  West,  where  she  is  dwelling  still.  The  gray 
manor-house  guards  its  secrets  well,  though  it  has 
witnessed  in  its  time  sorrows  and  sins  that  might 
have  wrung  a  voice  from  granite.  Conscious  of 
many  broken  hearts  and  blasted  hopes,  is  the  home 
of  the  Tresilyans  of  Tresilyan. 

I  confess  to  a  certain  regret,  as  that  graceful  fig- 
ure vanishes  from  the  stage  that  never  was  worthy 
of  her  queen-like  presence.  Was  it  in  dream-land 
that  I  saw  the  original  of  the  character  and  face 
that  I  have  endeavored,  thus  roughly,  to  portray  ? 
Perhaps  so.  But  there  are  visions  so  near  akin  to 
realities,  that  one's  brain  grows  dizzy  in  trying  to 
disentangle  the  two. 

It  is  unfortunate  that  the  void  created  by  any 
man's  death  is  by  no  means  proportionate  to  his 
intrinsic  merits.     So  it  happened  that  the  loss  of 


SWORD    AND    GOWN.  307 

Royston  Keene  was  felt  more  than  lie  deserved. 
Far  and  wide  over  the  surface  of  the  world's  sea 
the  circles  spread  from  the  spot  where  his  life  went 
down.  He  was  missed  not  only  by  his  old  com- 
rades in  arms :  men  who  scarcely  knew  him  by 
sight  spared  some  regret  to  the  favorite  hero  of 
the  Light  Dragoons.  Mark  Waring,  in  the  loneli- 
ness of  his  dreary  chambers,  gnashed  his  teeth  in 
bitterness  of  envy ;  for  he  guessed  ivho  would  be 
the  chief  mourner.  Arnaud  de  Chateaumesnil's 
remark  was  characteristic.  Hearing  that  his  old 
opponent  had  fallen  in  the  front  of  the  battle,  he 
struck  his  hand  impatiently  on  his  own  crippled 
limbs,  muttering, — "  Sang-dieu  !  II  avait  toujours 
la  main  heureuse."  Harry  Molyneux  cannot  trust 
his  voice  to  speak  of  him  yet ;  and  other  beautiful 
eyes  besides  La  Mignonne^s  were  dim  with  tears 
when  they  read  a  certain  death-gazette.  Truly, 
"  great  men  have  fallen  in  Israel,"  and  saints  have 
departed  in  the  plenitude  of  sanctity,  without  win- 
ning such  wealth  of  regrets  as  was  lavished  on  the 
grave  of  that  strong  sinner.  Only  two  women 
alive  —  and  these  he  had  never  wronged  —  re- 
joiced over  the  news  unfeignedly,  —  Bessie  Dan- 
vers  and  his  own  wife. 

Shall  we  pass  judgment  on  Royston  Keene  ? 
He  had  erred  so  often  and  heavily  that  even  the 
intercession  of  a  penitent  who  never  kneels  before 
Heaven  without  mingling  his  name  in  her  prayers 
must  probably  be  unavailing.     Yet  will  we  not 


308  SWORD    AND    GOWN. 

cast  the  stone.  All  temptations,  of  course,  can  be 
resisted,  and  ought  to  be  overcome.  But  there 
are  men  born  with  so  peculiar  a  temperament,  and 
who  seem  to  have  been  so  completely  under  the 
dominion  of  circumstances,  that  they  might  well 
be  supposed  to  have  been  raised  up  for  a  warning. 
How  far  are  such  to  be  held  accountable  ?  Let  us 
refrain  from  this  subject,  remembering  how  grave 
and  learned  theologians,  earnest  opponents  of  Pre- 
destinarianism,  have  been  reduced  to  the  extreme 
of  perplexity  when  confronted  with  the  ensample 
of  Pharaoh. 

It  would  neither  be  pleasant  nor  profitable  to 
pry  into  the  secrets  of  the  black  darkness  that  lies 
beyond  Royston's  death-bed ;  in  it  few  would  be 
able  to  distinguish  the  faintest  glimmer  of  light. 
But  we  have  no  more  authority  to  fix  limits  to  the 
long-suffering  of  Omnipotence,  than  we  have  to 
dispute  the  justice  of  its  revenge.  Let  us  stand 
aside,  and  hope 

That  Heaven  may  yet  have  more  mercy  than  man 
On  such  a  bold  rider's  soul. 

A  strange  doctrine,  that ;  savoring  perhaps  of 
heterodoxy,  and  perilous  to  be  adopted  by  such  as 
cannot  fathom  it  thoroughly.  But  if  there  be  no 
germ  of  truth  therein,  it  were  better  for  some  of 
us  that  we  had  never  been  born. 


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